The sound of water sloshing around slowly echoed throughout the room. It was a rather small room, containing only the metal pathways that stood above the dark green water. Not a single fish swam around, nor did any bugs crawl about. The room seemed almost entirely devoid of life, save for the man lying on the floor, almost entirely submerged in the cold water. His head exposed; it lay propped up against the cool metal bars.
His presence here was not new, however. His body has lingered in this room for nearly ten years, ever since that fateful day. Every day it had continued to rot, grey pieces of skin falling away along with short strands of thin white hair, both drifting along the endless supply of water. What little skin had remained lightly covered the man's almost bare bones, each bone sharply protruding against what remained of his body. His clothes had been tattered, countless holes of unequal sizes covering the fabric of his formerly pristine lab coat and suit. He looked, in every sense of the word, dead. And he was, for a while.
Such an unsightly appearance no longer suited him; he had changed almost entirely in the recent months that he spent lingering here.
Gradually, color had begun to return to his sagging, rotting skin as it turned to a smooth and milky white complexion, all wrinkles vanishing without a trace. His hair grew and turned to a dark shade of brown, becoming much thicker and reaching just below his shoulders. His torn clothes fell away and floated along the water, now replaced by an almost angelic white robe. It exposed a slight bit of his toned chest, with thick rope tied around his waist to keep the robe from being too loose-fitting. Intricate blue designs decorated the upper arms, the shade of blue matching the sapphire embedded in his silver diamond-shaped necklace. The neck of the robe had triangle-like pieces of fabric extending from it, adding to the distinct design. The outfit was accented with a weighty silver bracelet adorning his left wrist. Despite being overall very elaborate, the outfit did not come with shoes, exposing his medium-sized feet.
Regardless of how much the man had changed physically in these last few months, he had remained in this place so lifelessly, for so long. But soon, things would change extraordinarily.
The breath of life had returned to his empty shell of a body, allowing him to begin life anew.
A spark now remained lit, amidst the flames that had long since been extinguished. Soon, that spark would grow into a blaze, and eventually, an inferno.
Alas, it was not the time…yet.
He shifted and turned in what was once an endless slumber, on occasion making small, pained moans. He physically was well, his body restored to its prime without error. But mentally…he was not prepared.
His mind constantly changed, becoming enveloped in every memory that had remained with him throughout his life. His memories haunted him, each one constantly flashing through his mind as he struggled to wake. His earliest memories, his final memories.
Each one hit him like a hard slap to the face, yet they were unable to wake him. He could do nothing but sort through them in his subconscious, awaiting the moment in which he can finally reawaken.
He could do nothing, until he finally remembered who he was, and why he was here.
And in that moment, he realized. The reason he is here… The reason he has been stuck in this cold, desolate place for so long, doing nothing but rotting away, is because…
He is Dr. James Marcus. And ten years ago…
He was assassinated.
May 22nd, 1942
The story of his assassination begins in the distant past, starting with his old friend, Oswell E. Spencer. They went to the same college, where Marcus had been well-recognized throughout the school. He was known for getting perfect grades on almost every exam, as well as having the best overall grades in all of his classes.
For all the years he's been at this school—since fall of 1936—no one has ever stood a chance of competing with him.
That is, until Spencer's arrival. He was younger than Marcus, only having enrolled last September, but he quickly proved himself to be a worthy match. His grades were on-par with those of Marcus', so word of his intelligence quickly got around.
Despite never personally meeting each other, it was clear that they had developed a sort of rivalry, silently fighting to be known as the most intelligent student in the school.
Whenever one of them would get a perfect score on one of their exams, they would feel a smug sense of accomplishment knowing that they'd be one step closer to becoming the smartest student. Of course, then the other one would end up doing just as well, resulting in neither one actually becoming the best. This continued on for a while, until a chance meeting in the library caused them to finally formally introduce themselves.
The young man had been sitting at his usual spot in the empty corner of the library, books piled so high on the table that they were taller than he was. He was a very pale and almost sickly-looking man, aided by the dark circles just beneath his pale blue eyes. His long dark hair messily rested just below his shoulders, always worn down and never in a ponytail or anything of the sort. It may have been more convenient to do something with it so it wouldn't be all over the place, but he'd always say that it was pointless, he had better things to worry about than his hairstyle. That may have been a large part of the reason that he never bothered to get it cut, but he also just liked the length, not that he'd openly admit it.
He wore a formal student's outfit, white long-sleeved dress shirt and blue tie, black pants. His usual black blazer had been removed at the moment, but besides that, there was nothing out of the ordinary, really.
Yet despite having such a plain outfit, the same outfit as the other students, he felt he must have looked strange in some way. Why else had people constantly stared at him with looks of concern all of the time? Even now, there were many students that were staring at him with puzzled expressions, quietly whispering amongst themselves. What they had been saying, he couldn't know.
It could have been due to his appearance. Perhaps he was ugly, he wondered. But while he usually didn't fuss over his looks, he still thought he was at least somewhat attractive. Much better than the boring and dull appearances of many of his peers, if nothing else.
However, if not for his appearance, then they were likely staring because they were jealous. Being among the most intelligent people at the university had its pros and cons, with one of the cons being that those of inferior intelligence will always resent you for it.
At this point, he was more than used to their vulgar looks and insults directed at him. It was a daily occurrence after all, but he really didn't care at the end of the day. They could hate his appearance or his intelligence—maybe both at the same time—but it still didn't concern him. To care about the obsolete opinions of people that he knows are below him would be nothing more than foolish. He would simply ignore them, continuing his studies in peace.
Perhaps he seemed arrogant, often viewing himself as being better than others. He didn't see it quite like that though. He knew that he had the intelligence and skills needed to justify it, so it wasn't as if he was pretending to be much better than he was. It went without saying that he was simply better than all of his peers.
He couldn't help but feel almost disappointed in that fact, though. It was a very good school, one that his parents had spent a long time saving up for. So naturally, there should have been tons of highly intelligent people, ones that even he could learn from. He was actually looking forward to that possibility.
Instead, he comes to find that most of the students are of average or below intelligence, only attending because their parents were wealthy enough to send them to it without any issues. Most of those students cared more about making friends and partying than actually studying or learning. Marcus scoffed at those people. Not because they were able to so easily pay for their attendance, he was never the type to whine about others being better off than him. Such a thought was petty, pointless.
He instead disliked them due to their reluctance to take the school seriously. Why had they bothered attending at all if they were not intending to make the most of it? He suspected that many of them will fail, as they should. At any rate their money won't be totally wasted, they probably enjoyed the parties.
Much unlike those people, Marcus took his education very seriously. He had spent all twenty-three years of his life dedicating himself to learning. Even as a toddler, he was very curious and determined to discover new things. It's no surprise that the trait carried over to his adulthood, as well.
In fact, his only real hobby besides studying was performing experiments. He couldn't do anything too extravagant, due to limited funds and supplies, but he made do with what he could. He still learned new things from them, so they were a success either way. Knowledge was—naturally, the most important thing in society.
So, having dedicated his life to obtaining new knowledge, why shouldn't he be arrogant? That knowledge will one day be a great benefit to humanity, so it's only normal for him to feel confident in it. He knew that those fools would all regret their harsh judgement of him someday.
In the future, he'll create something that will alter their lives forever! Then, everyone will look back on Dr. James Marcus fondly, a highly successful man that changed the world with his extraordinary intelligence. It was a lovely thought, it helped drive him towards his goals.
Once he was finished with college, nothing could stop him. He was almost halfway through his journey, having already received both his bachelor's and master's degrees, with about seven more years left in order for him to obtain his doctorate degree.
But no matter how far away his goals may be, he would continue to spend those years expanding his knowledge. That will help give him a better idea of how he'll change the world, when the time comes. He already had ideas, but nothing was set in stone yet. All that aside, he would need to just focus on his studies, ignoring the foolish masses and their even more foolish opinions of him.
That's what he would do now as well, if not for someone bumping into the table and causing the huge pile of books to fall and scatter, many loud thumps and thuds in the process.
"Hm? Oh, well isn't that unfortunate…" The man mumbled to himself indifferently as he stared at the fallen books, the tone of his voice betraying his seemingly concerned words. Brushing his light-brown bangs aside, he shrugged dismissively.
He was a young-looking man of average height with chiseled features that complimented his deep blue eyes. His hair was short, yet long enough to form a small, tight ponytail. His outfit was more embellished than the ordinary student's outfit, with many intricate designs embroidered in gold on the black blazer, additionally opting for a formal ascot rather than the usual tie. Fluffy frills could also be seen from beneath the jacket sleeves, due to what must be quite a fancy undershirt. He was also wearing what appeared to be a very expensive watch, the dazzling gold shimmering from the bright fluorescent lights of the library. Somehow, the man seemed to radiate an aura of arrogance, carrying himself with the utmost confidence and pride.
Marcus narrowed his eyes at the sight. Why was he wearing such overly extravagant clothes? It looked more like he was attending a ball, rather than school. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised given the average wealth of this school's students, but regardless, most—if not all—of the students still wore the regular uniform.
This guy, on the contrary, clearly didn't get the memo, unless he did get it and simply wanted to show off instead. Marcus figured it was probably the latter. Though, he had to wonder. Were those embellishments to the uniform even allowed? He was sure it must have been against the dress code…
"My humble apologies. Here, allow me to help with that." He waved a hand, signaling a nearby student to come closer, then pointed to the mess of books covering the floor. Marcus did raise an eyebrow at the odd motions, but he was more shocked to see the student actually scurrying over to follow his silent demand. The books were picked up and placed into a neat pile, as they formerly were. The man dismissed the student, who quickly went back to his table.
He smiled, more proudly than politely, and held his hand out. "Oswell E. Spencer. And you are James Marcus, correct?"
Oswell E. Spencer… Naturally, Marcus did know of him. He was the guy who enrolled not too long ago, also known as his competition for being the number one student at the school. Despite being quite a few years younger than him, his intellect rivaled even Marcus'. The thought was actually somewhat irritating. Someone so much younger shouldn't even come close to posing a threat to him, yet here he was.
Oh well, though. He was actually appreciative of the fact that he finally had some competition. It was a breath of fresh air, considering how he's been dealing with nothing but absolute morons for the past few years.
That aside, he was never all that familiar with what the man looked like, only ever having brief glances at him while groups of students would crowd around him, praising him for his latest accomplishments.
The sight had always been annoying to Marcus. The other students never commended him in that way. If anything, a student or two would sometimes give him a quick "congrats" as they passed him in the hall, nothing special. And while he preferred it that way, he couldn't help wondering why they acted so differently to him than they did with Spencer. Was he really such an unlikable guy?
Marcus looked up at the man, and then his hand, and reluctantly shook it—having a rather sour expression. "It's not much of an introduction if you introduce both of us yourself, but yes, that's right."
Spencer gave a dry chuckle before grabbing a nearby chair and placing it at the table next to him, then sitting down. "Again, my apologies. It'd be quite difficult for me to not know of you though, now wouldn't it? After all, your name is quite popular around here."
Marcus rested his cheek in his palm, his arm leaning on the table, with a weary expression. He was at a loss as to why this man was still talking to him, never mind now sitting next to him. Marcus was never the social type, so the thought of a longer conversation was quite irksome. It wasn't as if he was shy or anxious, nothing like that. He simply didn't like talking to people.
He was an introverted man that preferred only the company of himself and his books, the way it was always meant to be. Because of this, he tended to come across as rude to most people. He tried to be nice, usually. But it never worked out very well. His anti-social ways always ended up coming out at some point, and then people ended up getting mad at him. That's a big part of the reason that he doesn't have friends, though he also claims he doesn't want any.
"I'm a popular guy, I suppose," he mumbled dejectedly. "But not nearly as popular as you, it would seem. You've only been at the school for a few months, but you already can command students to do your bidding. I'm quite sure I would not be able to do that." He narrowed his eyes at the thought. "They certainly wouldn't listen, at the least." His tone was quite snarky, though it didn't seem to bother the smug young man sitting across from him.
"Perhaps not. I do believe that particular ability comes more so from my status, however, rather than my popularity." A slight frown graced his lips for a brief moment before returning to his usual grin. "You may not know this, but I'm next in line to be earl of the Spencer family. It's a position that demands a lot of respect, you can imagine. Stressful, yes, but quite rewarding." Despite his frown from before, he did seem quite proud of his position, smiling eagerly.
Sighing inwardly, Marcus realized his fear was coming true. This guy was intent on dragging the conversation out. If he didn't speak up soon, then this conversation would never end, or at least not for a while. Not wanting to deal with such a mentally draining situation, he was determined to put a stop to it.
He spoke coldly and sharply as he stared directly at the other man. "That's great, truly, but why exactly are you telling me this? If you believe that you need to pretend we're friends and speak with me simply because you knocked my books over, there's no need. All is forgiven. So if we're done here…" He trailed off, hoping that the conversation would now be over.
It's not as if he wanted to be intentionally rude, but this would be precious time wasted otherwise. He really did want to just go back to studying.
Although, there was also something about this guy that kind of got on his nerves, too. The way he spoke so politely, smiling for absolutely no particular reason all the while. Combine that with his need to dress more sophisticatedly than everyone else, plus talking about his status despite no one having asked about it… It reminded Marcus of someone who pretended to be nice so that they could keep a good reputation, while stabbing people in the back all the while—
—Of course, Marcus did have a general lack of trust in people, so he may have been simply trying to find reasons to dislike him. He wasn't sure why he was this way, but he had been the same ever since he was a child. No matter who had tried to get him to open up and become his friend, he would push them away.
He didn't think of it as a bad trait, however. It was smart to be weary—to avoid unnecessary trouble. Never bothering with anyone, never trusting anyone. He would never be deceived, his trust never betrayed. If that way of living was wrong, then he didn't care to be right.
Regardless, back to the problem at hand. The man, Spencer, was surely confident—that much was certain. Marcus was fairly confident in himself too; he could admit that. But his confidence was based on his actual intelligence and abilities, rather than a measly status in life. He just couldn't help feeling that Spencer, on the other hand, likely puts quite a lot of worth into his status. Too much worth, probably.
Perhaps status is fine in itself, but it often tends to cloud someone's judgement. If you intend to have a career outside of it, you will never fully excel in that career unless you decide to leave your status on the backburner. Otherwise, you may risk spending too much time dedicated to maintaining that position, rather than focusing on what you truly desire.
It also goes without saying that people with a very high standing will likely end up having a very inflated ego, which may cause them to overestimate the skills that they do have. Those were the types of people that Marcus especially wasn't fond of, not that he was fond of many people anyway.
Of course, Spencer was still without a doubt smart, so he may have known all of this already. He may not even be as arrogant as Marcus thought, though that'd be surprising given how smug he has seemed during the entire conversation. Plus, Marcus considered himself to be an excellent judge of character, so he was fairly certain that he was correct in his initial judgement.
Only time could tell, he supposed. Although he also didn't really care enough to know. After all, this would surely be the last time they spoke, thanks to Marcus' rather impolite comment.
The man's smile faded, becoming a much more serious and somehow intimidating expression. "Straight to the point, are we? While it is true, friends do tend to speak to each other, and we aren't exactly friends at the moment. And it was merely a coincidence that I bumped into your table, a chance of Fate, if you will." He smiled politely, noticing the rather annoyed expression on the gloomy man's face. "But I simply wished to take the opportunity to finally formally introduce myself to you. After all, surely you have felt the same way that I feel, a sense of rivalry between us."
He tilted his head inquisitively. "I know you have been at this school for far longer than I have, but it goes without saying that we are both well-known for being the most intelligent students at this school. And of course, those with superior intelligence to others will always feel the need to rise even higher. So it's only natural that we would both feel the need to surpass each other, isn't it?"
Marcus continued to frown, more confused than annoyed at this point. This conversation took an unexpected turn, but Marcus couldn't deny that he did feel some sense of a rivalry between them, and he naturally did want to surpass others in terms of intelligence.
Yet he still was unable to understand this man's intention. Was it really only an introduction to a rival, or did the man have some sort of ulterior motive? Since he was forced into this conversation, he may as well learn the purpose of it, at the least.
"So do you have some sort of scheme planned or something of the sort?" He spoke bluntly, determined to get to the bottom of it. "I fail to see the point of us meeting otherwise. We're both superior to all the others, so? If you want us to be rivals or something, then we can be rivals without needing to know each other. That's how it's been for all of this time, isn't it?" He placed his arms on the table, indifferently resting his chin on his hands.
Spencer sighed with a rather annoyed expression. "I suppose they weren't exaggerating when they said you were anti-social and difficult to get along with…" He mumbled to himself, looking off to the side.
Still, he forced a smile once more as he returned his gaze to the man. "Well, as I'm sure you know, we're both in similar fields of study. You're a man of the sciences as well. And any good scientist knows that they need other scientists in order to challenge their beliefs." He tilted his head, still smirking. "But with our intellect, any ordinary scientist couldn't compare, their objections to our theories would be pitiful, really. I'm sure you've noticed this even with the other students, haven't you? Their intelligence is by far inferior to ours, despite this being one of the best schools in the country." He noticed Marcus' eyes widen for a brief second, causing his grin to grow.
"Yes, you've definitely noticed, of course… So with that being said, I do believe it makes quite a lot of sense in order for us to become friends. With our intellect, we would be able to share ideas and theories, as well as challenge each other on our views. It would help us to become better scientists, don't you agree? Two men with extraordinary intelligence working together, as equals. A lovely thought, is it not?" His smile was quite proud, as if he knew it was an offer Marcus couldn't refuse.
His confidence was a little annoying—or rather, really annoying. But again, he wasn't really wrong. Like him or not, he was definitely smart. To have him as an equal in his career would certainly be a great benefit. He'd be a fool to deny it.
The thought of having…a friend, though. It was irritating, to say the least. What a waste of time it would be, needing to chat about worthless daily events and go out for lunch—so mundane.
And he only met this man ten minutes ago, why on earth would he want to be his friend? He knows nothing about him, other than the fact that he's smart and apparently in line to become the next earl of his family, thanks to him feeling the need to broadcast that fact. But what else does he know? Nothing! He could never trust a man that he's only just met, that'd be ridiculous.
Yet…while he could just refuse the suggestion, that would be stupid. Will he really forfeit the chance to become a better scientist simply because he doesn't like the guy? Simply because he doesn't trust him?
No, he could never. His future career meant more to him than anything else in the entire world, he would never jeopardize it. He would need to put his personal doubts about the man aside, for his own sake.
After a moment of deep thought, he sighed quite exasperatedly. "Yes, I do suppose you're right." He then crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow questioningly. "Although, why would you ask this now? You've been at this school since fall, have you not? You've had plenty of opportunities to ask…"
The young aristocrat smiled sheepishly. "Honestly, I've heard that you're a very difficult person, so I had to spend some time contemplating how I may convince you. It's a good thing that I chose to ponder it for so long—the stories about your unsociable attitude were more accurate than I expected. To be quite honest, your manners could use some work."
Marcus scowled at the statement. "I'll work on whatever I please," he spat in annoyance. "I certainly don't need you to tell me about manners, either. You're not all that polite yourself…"
"Me?" The man looked genuinely surprised, his mouth agape and eyebrows raised. "I've been told that my manners are excellent. Every person I've met has liked me almost immediately. Except you, apparently." He frowned deeply.
"Because I don't trust you." He spoke sharply. "I bet you're one of those types of people…the ones that act like they're your best friend, but they really can't stand you—so then they complain about you to all of their other friends. Am I wrong?" Marcus smiled confidently, assured that he was correct in his judge of character.
Staring with concern, Spencer shook his head—less an answer to his question and more just in disbelief. "That's not true at all… Goodness, I'm really starting to understand why you don't have friends. Have you always been this way?"
"This has nothing to do with whether or not I have friends!" His voice raised as he quickly stood, he suddenly blushed in embarrassment. He had just remembered that they were in a library, and there were several students nearby, staring in concern.
He sat back down and slumped back in his chair; his arms still crossed. "…I don't need friends. But we can't all be like you, can we? I'm sure you must have an endless list of friends."
Spencer placed a hand on his chin, seeming deep in thought. After a moment, he spoke. "Hm. I suppose not. I know a lot of aristocrats and such, but I can't say any of them are truly my friends. More like friendly acquaintances, I believe." He shrugged dismissively.
Marcus suddenly sat up, shocked by the revelation. "Wha… Why are you talking about me not having friends then? You're no better than I am!"
He smiled sheepishly. "I suppose that's true. But I have a more likable personality."
"What? You do not!"
"No, I definitely do."
It went on for a while, the two arguing over who had a better personality. Such a conversation was pointless, yet somehow…Marcus didn't entirely hate it. It was the first time he had ever spoken to someone in such a way, and the longest conversation with a non-relative he had ever had. Was this how it felt to have a friend? If it was, then he supposed he might be able to get used to it…eventually.
Having a friend… Such a foreign feeling. One he had never known, one that he never wanted to know. But now that he did know it…it was nice.
Marcus and Spencer spent most of their free time together for the next few years. They didn't have any other friends, so it wasn't as if they had anyone better to hang out with. They argued pretty often, and disagreed on most practical matters, but they did enjoy each other's company…usually.
Marcus also started to grow accustomed to the idea of having a friend and stopped being so distrustful of Spencer's motives. They really were just friends, trying to help each other become better scientists.
He was still fairly rude, but Spencer was the same to him, both of them often making jokes at the other's expense. Still, it was all in good humor, and it may have been the thing that helped Marcus open up enough to the point of actually being able to enjoy having a friend. He'd prefer their non-scientific conversations be based on them making fun of each other—rather than something dull like the weather, or their hobbies. It was better this way.
They would often study together and compare their research. Despite still only being in college, they were already planning their future studies. Spencer had obtained his bachelor's degree, and Marcus was a few years away from getting his doctorate degree. Naturally, it was important for both of them to start getting ideas and finalizing them. They would likely devote many years of their lives to their primary theory, if not their entire lives. With that being the case, they already had ideas for their main focus.
Spencer thought big, often viewing things through an outlandish perspective. He had ideas and theories that most people would believe to be utterly ridiculous. One view in particular he held dear to him was the idea of immortality and how it could be achieved. He had some valid points in regard to it, and Marcus had to admit, he was somewhat interested in the idea as well.
He did have doubts about how it could possibly be accomplished at this point in time, but perhaps Spencer's determination to achieve the goal was enough to make it happen. After all, a scientist is nothing without the desire to break all boundaries, accomplishing things that never would have seemed possible previously.
Marcus was no stranger to big ambitions either. Sure, he wanted to create cures to some of the world's diseases, that was basically a given in his field of study. And he would do that, most likely. But on the other hand, he also considered the idea of creating some sort of medicine that could greatly enhance human abilities. Strength, intelligence, et cetera. Not like a temporary boost either, a permanent one— simply from one dose.
Such an amazing creation would be a huge benefit to society, it would without a doubt change it forever. And lofty though it may be, he was sure he could accomplish it. Then once he did, all of those stupid students that thought harshly of him would be eating their words. They'd also be eating—or drinking—the dose of his miracle medicine. At last, they'd finally have decent intelligence! They better be thankful, when the time comes.
August 12th, 1945
It had been a hot summer day, the heat causing Marcus to sweat profusely—on the verge of passing out. His hair had been sticking out in several places as well, the humidity not exactly doing it any favors. He desperately wanted to go home, or perhaps under the shade of a tree so he can just give up and die.
Unfortunately, neither of those were an option at the moment. He was on his way to Spencer's house, or mansion. Or at least, one of his mansions. Spencer had a lot of those, but this is the one he was currently staying at while living in America.
Spencer was from somewhere in Europe, so that was his primary residence. Where exactly in Europe—Marcus wasn't sure. Oddly enough, Spencer didn't talk about his actual home much. Perhaps it was because he had so many homes, though. He likely has mansions all over Europe, so it's not like he has just one. Regardless, he had moved here temporarily for his schooling, and would go back to Europe once he was finished.
Spencer promised that even after returning home, he'd still visit Marcus, and that he could always send a private plane to bring Marcus over for a visit. He would be able to stay at one of Spencer's summer villas, a big mansion that was nice and air-conditioned.
Marcus didn't care that much about the idea initially, but he sure was longing for that right now. The thought of air conditioning made him feel like he was in heaven, which quickly caused him to worry that he may have actually died on the way. Thankfully, he still had a pulse.
Eventually, he had made it to what he thought was the place. He stared at the paper in his hands containing the address, and then at the nearby sign that said his current address. It was definitely the place. It wasn't as if there were a ton of castles sitting around here, anyway.
Taking a minute so that he could catch his breath, he finally reached for the golden door handle. It was one of those types where it's shaped like a ring and you have to lift and bang it against the door.
He did that, although the weight of the handle did catch him off guard at first. He figured it must have been made from real gold, because it was really heavy. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised, though. Why wouldn't it be made of real gold?
After a few seconds, the heavy door slowly opened. There stood an older man with grey hair and a formal black suit—a butler, no doubt. He bowed, gesturing for Marcus to come in. "Welcome, Sir Marcus. Lord Spencer is in the dining hall, allow me to escort you."
Marcus gulped nervously, slowly stepping through the door and following the butler.
This had been the first time he visited Spencer at his actual estate. Usually when they studied, it would be at either Marcus' house or they'd meet at a diner, something of the sort. Spencer did invite him to his estate several times, but Marcus never wanted to go. It was pretty far, so he needed to take a long train ride, as well as walking for about another fifteen minutes. The overall trip took almost two hours, an amount of time that he wasn't very fond of squandering. Of course, he read and studied while he was on the train, so it wasn't a total waste, but still.
He just wasn't sure why Spencer insisted on them meeting at the estate today. Although they have known each other for three years already, so maybe it was about time that he finally visited…
Spencer could have picked a better season for the visit though, like spring or fall. Even winter he'd prefer, though he wasn't fond of extremely cold temperatures either.
Another problem with visiting Spencer is that he could never get used to how…rich, he was. Fancy castles, fancy butlers, fancy door handles… It was all quite overwhelming.
He also couldn't help but feel embarrassed at his appearance. Not his clothes necessarily, he had dressed somewhat formally, though still not as formally as the butler. But he had been sweating so much, he was sure he was a mess. And his hair must have been sticking out everywhere, too—
"We've arrived, Sir."
—The butler's calm voice shook him out of his thoughts, now noticing that he was in the huge dining hall. It was definitely bigger than his own house, no doubt.
There were pillars that embellished the sides of the room, each one working with the others to hold up the second-floor balcony. A lavish red carpet also covered the floors, contrasting the pure white floors and walls. The long table that stretched throughout the room was a deep chestnut brown, setting it apart from the large number of white furnishings in the room.
Upon closer inspection, Marcus noticed that the table seated not only Spencer, but another man, as well.
The man had been sitting beside Spencer, gracefully sipping a cup of tea. He had short blonde hair, which seemed to have been combed very carefully, not even a single strand was out of place. He had a dark purple suit on, his white ascot complimenting it nicely. His face was gentle and kind, even without smiling. He had a very sophisticated air about him. He definitely seemed to be an aristocrat.
As Marcus walked closer to the table, the man looked up at him—a calm smile forming on his lips, yet he did not speak. Spencer instead was the one to speak up, standing and bowing as Marcus walked in. "Ah, Marcus, you've arrived. Right on time as well, not that I'm surprised."
Marcus attempted to speak, but Spencer quickly continued.
"I'm sure you may be wondering who this gentleman here is. And we will get to that—in a moment. But before that, perhaps you should visit the restroom. You look like you could use a nice…freshening-up." He tried to hide his look of contempt, to no avail.
Marcus frowned but didn't argue it, figuring that he wasn't wrong. "Uh…right… Where's the bathroom?" He looked around, though there weren't any rooms nearby.
"I will escort you again, Sir. Please, follow me." The butler from before was at his side in a moment, looking to him, and then beginning to walk. Marcus stumbled somewhat as he quickly began to follow.
Who is that guy? A friend? A relative? But more importantly, why is he here now? I thought we were supposed to study today. Is he going to study with us? I hope not. The less company, the better. But it would be strange for him to just sit there while we study, wouldn't it? Maybe he will study with us…
His mind was full of questions, none of which could be answered until he "freshened-up," as Spencer had put it.
In what felt like an eternity, despite only being five minutes, they arrived at the restroom. Marcus thanked the butler and went in. He did his business, which also included washing his face and combing his hair with a nearby comb he found. Once he was satisfied with his now-pleasant appearance, he left, with the butler there to escort him back to the dining hall.
Upon arriving, Spencer stood and bowed again, smiling politely this time. "Ah, welcome back." His smile didn't last long, quickly changing to a look of confusion. "What on earth happened to you, anyway? Didn't you take a train for most of the way? You were sweating an awful lot…"
"Yes, I did." He muttered sadly, taking a seat at the table. "I still needed to walk for a little while to reach the mansion, though. And if you haven't noticed, it's almost a hundred degrees outside. I could have died." He sighed in exhaustion, just relieved to be in the cozy air-conditioned mansion now.
"I think that's a bit of an exaggeration, but all right." His smile returned. "I'm glad you did not die on the way, that would have been unfortunate. You look much more presentable now, as well."
"Yeah, yeah…" Marcus mumbled disdainfully, then quickly wondering if he should try to act more respectful, since there was company here. He didn't really feel like it, though. No matter who this guy was, it didn't matter if he liked Marcus or not. This was obviously a one-time meeting, anyway.
Spencer rolled his eyes at Marcus' lack of dignity before continuing. "Well, anyway, onto introductions…" He gestured to the quiet blonde man at the table. "Marcus, this is my friend, Edward Ashford." He then motioned to Marcus as he looked to Edward. "Ashford, this is my friend from school, James Marcus."
Ashford immediately stood and bowed, then offered a hand to Marcus, who slowly shook it. "It's wonderful to meet you, Marcus. Spencer has told me a lot about you."
Marcus quickly looked to Spencer in annoyance before looking back to Ashford. "I would like to think he told you good things, but I won't get my hopes up too much."
Ashford chuckled, not seeming to realize he was serious. "Ah, he told me you had quite a sense of humor as well. I see he wasn't mistaken."
Cutting off their chit-chat before it got too off-track, Spencer interrupted. "Marcus, would you like some tea? I'll have Frankford pour you a cup."
Without even giving him a chance to answer, he called the butler, apparently named Frankford, over. "Lavender tea, one sugar, yes?" He looked to Marcus, who nodded. Frankford swiftly went to work.
As they waited, there was a somewhat awkward silence for a minute, until Spencer finally spoke again. "Yes, I suppose I should explain the reason that I arranged this meeting, hm?"
"Yeah, that'd certainly be nice." Marcus spoke sarcastically, apathetically leaning his head on his hand. Frankford then placed Marcus' cup of tea on the table, already finished pouring it. Marcus thanked him as he stepped away.
"Yes, I would like to know the reason as well." Ashford interjected, staring at Spencer in confusion. "I must say, it was a surprise to receive your invitation. It's unusual for you to invite someone over without a social gathering or event coming up."
Marcus was a little surprised at the man's statement. He thought for sure that he would have already known the reason for this meeting, but apparently Spencer had kept both of them in the dark.
Spencer nodded before continuing. "Well, Ashford and I have known each other for quite a while. We would talk often at dinner parties and such, although nothing came of it until recently. I learned that he, at his college in England, is currently in a similar field to us. He is also studying biochemistry and the like. And he's very intelligent, I can speak for that." He looked to Marcus, almost as if he knew that he would doubt it.
"So, to keep this brief, I thought it would be nice if the three of us could come together and form a trio of sorts. What do you both say?"
After a minute, Ashford, nodding was the first to speak up. "It does sound like a nice idea. From what you've told me, Marcus is a very intelligent individual. Working with the two of you would be an exquisite idea." He smiled kindly, before frowning somewhat. "Although as I've told you, Spencer. I'm only staying in America shortly, so I will need to return home soon, and thus will be unable to meet with you both all that often. But we could communicate through letters, or over the telephone." His smile returned. "However, I will try to visit whenever possible, if I am able."
So this really was just an introduction after all... Marcus thought to himself. He should have known it wasn't anything too serious. Spencer just made a friend and wanted Marcus to be friends with him too. In the past, Marcus would have been annoyed at how pointless this idea was. But now, he actually didn't mind it. He would go along with it. This time, at least.
"I don't really care one way or another…" He realized that probably sounded rude, so he tried to rephrase it. "Er, that is, it's a nice idea, for sure… If you two are for it—then I am too, I suppose."
While his manners were far from perfect, he was genuinely trying to be nice. Having a friend for these past few years must have had some effect on him, because he never would have actually tried to correct himself in order to seem nicer. And this conversation wasn't actually dreadful to him, either. It was a surprise, sure, but not something that was causing him great grief.
The thought of how at peace he was with the conversation was sort of refreshing…but also somewhat annoying, too. He supposed this was his life now, a life where he can actually hold a conversation… It was pretty upsetting, if he was being honest.
Still, this Ashford fellow did seem fairly nice. Quiet, perhaps, but nice. That was actually pretty surprising, given his aristocratic status. He didn't seem as full of himself as Spencer initially had, at least not on the surface. And if he was interested in the same fields as them, then at least they'd have a common interest. Working with him might not be so bad.
He'd have to see for himself just how intelligent he really is though. Spencer might have tried to assure him of his intelligence, but that didn't give him any specifics. He would need to observe him as this "friendship" grows.
Beyond that, he did have some doubts about the friendship. Sure, scientists should have equals in the field to help them grow, all of that stuff. But was there any other point? Did he really almost die from heat exhaustion on the way over here, simply to make a new friend? It was a valid question, one that he was determined to find the answer to.
"Although," Marcus began, "what exactly will this trio do for us? Are we just going to study together? Share research theories? There must be some further point to this, right?" He questioned as he stared at Spencer, leaning his cheek in his hand. "I can't imagine you—of all people—would go out of your way to simply introduce some of your friends to each other. There must be some plan involved, isn't there?"
Spencer frowned deeply. "I should have figured you'd be the one to need every specific detail, I suppose." He then gave a quiet sigh and shook his head. "You needn't phrase it so…maliciously, however. My intentions are pure, honest. Shouldn't you realize that by now? We've been friends for years."
Marcus shrugged indifferently. "I'm not saying you have malicious intentions. I'm only wondering if there is a deeper purpose for this meeting, that is all. But fine then, are you saying that there actually isn't another motive? This is a plain introduction, nothing else?" He narrowed his eyes, very doubtful about that possibility.
Spencer placed a hand on his chin, seemingly thinking. "Well, as of now, it will likely be limited to those things, studying and whatnot. However…" He trailed off, unintentionally assuring Marcus that there really was a hidden motive. "We should simply keep this friendship in mind. Perhaps someday we can form a company, once we're all famous and world-renowned scientists. We can save the world together, that sort of thing."
Marcus rose an eyebrow while Ashford chuckled. That…was not the hidden motive he was expecting. He wanted to form a company…to save the world? Such a cheerful and noble goal definitely did not sound right coming from Spencer. Saving the world is usually for nice people, not…Spencer-types.
"Wow, very noble, indeed. The world's savior, Spencer, hm…" Marcus spoke mockingly, rolling his eyes.
"I think that sounds like a nice idea, myself." Ashford said calmly. "I'm sure with the three of us put together, we could likely accomplish something of that sort. It'd be quite amazing. Do you not agree, Marcus? Wouldn't you wish to make such a large impact on the world as well?" He looked to the pale man, genuinely surprised that he didn't seem to like the idea.
Marcus, being reluctantly put on the spot, gave an exasperated sigh. "It's not a bad idea, I suppose… It's just unusual, especially coming from Spencer, but…" He turned away from them, a faint blush present on his cheeks.
"…I can't deny that it would be thrilling, actually changing the world in such a way… To actually save it…" He mumbled quietly, barely audible, as he tried to contain his smile, unsuccessfully.
He couldn't help his eagerness; it was in a scientist's nature to aspire for such huge ambitions. Cliché though it may be, attempting to save the world, or something of the sort, was something that he was highly interested in.
Spencer gave a quick clap, a confident grin present on his expression. "I'm glad you agree, Ashford. And could it be…do I even hear some excitement in dear old Marcus' voice? And is that a rare, once in a lifetime smile, as well? Don't be shy, now. There's no need to hide it!" He shot a smug grin at Marcus, who instantly responded with a disgusted scowl.
Satisfied with having annoyed Marcus, he returned to a more serious expression and continued. "That aside, I am quite serious. I do believe it would be a fine idea. As typical of my family line, business is in my blood. A company based upon biochemistry and virology would be a perfect fit for me. You both have such a strong interest in that field as well. And since I've become very fond of you both, even Marcus, I see no one better to form a company with." He smiled proudly.
Marcus scoffed, crossing his arms. "Why do you need to say, 'even Marcus', though…" He muttered in annoyance. "Whatever. I'll think about it, when the time comes. But right now I need to focus on my schooling, as you both should, as well." He relaxed his tense muscles somewhat before continuing. "Speaking of, will we be actually getting to studying today? Or was the study session simply a ruse to force this introduction upon me?" He rose an eyebrow in suspicion.
"Again with the schemes and hidden motives…" Spencer mumbled with an exasperated sigh. "Although to be honest, it actually was a scheme this time." He smiled guiltily. "But if you both don't have anything to do, we could spend the rest of the afternoon together. I'll have the chef make us a grand feast." He smiled eagerly.
"Wonderful. I am feeling a bit hungry, myself," Ashford added.
"Wait, does that mean we aren't studying? At all? I didn't come here just to make friends and eat, you know!" Marcus exclaimed in frustration. However, the cheerful expressions and chuckles of the other two settled him down somewhat. After a moment, he sighed in surrender.
"Well…I suppose one afternoon of not studying won't hurt…" He mumbled dejectedly.
As Ashford had said, he did end up returning to England later that month. Before he did though, the three spent some more time together. Marcus was relieved that they actually did study in the later get-togethers, rather than just sitting there chatting and eating. In their studies, Marcus was able to get a better grasp of Ashford's life and personality as well.
On the surface, he was a calm and gentle man, much like how he was in their first meeting. But beneath that exterior was the drive of a passionate scientist. He—like the other two—strove to achieve new ambitions. His primary interest was in virology and eugenics, creating a type of chemical that could enhance humanity, a goal not so distant from Marcus and Spencer.
He had several thoughts on how that goal could be accomplished, and while he had the funding to pursue such research—he lacked the initiative. It was such a lofty ambition, and with his recent family line not being very involved with science, he was on his own and unsure of the steps he would need to pursue. Because of this, he was very thankful for having met Marcus and Spencer, as they were much more well-versed in science than he was.
Yet despite his somewhat lacking knowledge of science, he was still an intelligent man regardless. He wasn't exactly a novice, if nothing else, and he was still in college learning as well. And with the help of his new friends, he would be able to learn even more.
Although, Marcus did have some concerns about him. He could have all of the ideas in the world, but no matter how impressive his ideas were, they were meaningless unless they were acted upon. He advised Ashford to work on that trait several times, and while he said he would, it seemed to fall on deaf ears. It would be quite unfortunate if he didn't, though. Not only was his desired virology career at stake, but his entire family legacy, as well.
That was the next thing Marcus discovered. Not only was Ashford an aristocrat, but he was to become the next earl of his family, too.
Marcus hadn't known much about the family; he didn't care to know. But Ashford ended up telling him anyway, mainly about how their ancestor Veronica was a highly intelligent and magnificent woman that had led the family to prosperity. She was skilled in many subjects, biology being one of them. She set such high standards for the family; Edward had struggled to keep up. That was the main reason that he had been so determined to become a virologist. He refused to let his family down, to let their legacy fall to ruin.
Marcus couldn't really understand these things. Why had people been so obsessed with their family legacies? Both Ashford and Spencer were always going on and on about their families. He guessed it must be an aristocratic thing, because the thought of him having a family legacy never really crossed his mind. But he also figured that might have been because his family had not done anything all that special with their lives.
His father had worked in a factory, eventually rising to become a manager. His mother had sold her homemade clothes in order to make some extra income, spending the rest of her time taking care of the young Marcus. They might not have been the most exciting careers, but given the time period, they were of the few readily available.
Now, he wasn't complaining, of course. Because despite them not having very grand ambitions for their own lives, they saved all of the money they could in order to send Marcus to college so that he could have his own ambitions. He was very grateful for them, that was certain. They didn't really have a legacy, though.
But who knows? He thought that perhaps someday he would create his own family legacy. Using the chance his parents had given him, he could raise a family of scientists—a family line that would last for generations. When he thought about it like that, he could sort of understand the fascination with family legacies.
But overall, they sounded like a lot of unnecessary stress, so he wasn't all that keen on the idea. He would just try to make his own legacy, leave his family out of it. Then his children could make their own legacies too, no extra pressure necessary. He liked that idea better.
March 8th, 1964
Years had continued to pass. By 1949, Marcus had received his doctorate degree and finally graduated from college. With that, he had finally done it. He had officially become a scientist, majoring in virology with a sharp focus on biochemistry and also biology.
So, he's spent these fifteen years since his graduation on really getting his foot in the door, getting his name out there. He would give lectures about his research at universities, give interviews for magazine articles, anything that could give him recognition.
Although since he wasn't actually accomplishing much as of yet—only talking about his research on hot topics in virology and discussing the occasional minor discovery he had—he didn't actually care about the recognition so much. He wanted to be known for what he had done, not for what he wanted to do, or for something relatively small that he had done. But, he was paid for those interviews and lectures, and the money was quite important. He didn't mean to sound greedy, but his research and experiments weren't exactly funding themselves. Thus, he did what he needed to.
It had been a somewhat chilly day, the gentle breeze wafting through the air and rustling the bright green leaves of the trees along the sidewalk. Marcus had been on his way back from grocery shopping, something that he hadn't done in a while. The only reason he even realized he needed to go shopping was because when he woke up prepared to have breakfast, he noticed his fridge was almost entirely empty, nothing remaining but a few bottles of water. Wanting something with a little more…substance, he decided to go to the store.
It wasn't as if money was an issue, he had more than enough money these days. It truly was just that he forgot, having been so preoccupied with his research. He gets so lost in it sometimes that he's been known to go days without eating. He was almost always glued to his desk, jotting something or another down on paper. When not at his desk, he would instead be at his worktable, conducting whatever the experiment of the day had been.
Other than that, and whenever he was doing his public discussions about his work, he called Spencer and Ashford sometimes too. They rarely got together anymore, only during the occasional stay at Spencer's summer villa in Europe. So, they mostly resorted to phone discussions.
It was still nice to talk to them, but Marcus couldn't help feeling that they all had grown distant over the years. He figured it was simply fated to happen, though. They were all doing their own things, trying to become great scientists on their own. He knew that, yet he couldn't help feeling somewhat lonesome from time to time.
He chuckled to himself, thinking about how sentimental he had become over the years. Having friends must have had a greater impact on him than he had thought, apparently. Why, when he was younger, he never would have—
"Oh my gosh! You're Dr. Marcus, aren't you? I can't believe it, you are! You really are!"
—His thoughts were interrupted by a light and excited voice coming from behind him. Upon turning, he saw the man responsible.
He looked young, probably in his twenties. He was pretty tall though, almost reaching Marcus' height of 6'1. He was fairly slender—not very muscular at all—but he didn't seem out of shape, necessarily. He had semi-long pale brown hair that hung just above his shoulders, his bangs carefully brushed to the side. His skin was pale, with bright blue eyes and a huge smile seemingly plastered onto his face. He had on a thin tan jacket, with a white t-shirt underneath, paired with dark blue jeans along with black sneakers. He had been standing oddly, his back somewhat hunched as he held his two fists in the air, seemingly very excited.
"I… Uh, yes, that's me, James Marcus. And you are?" He asked, wearing an expression of confusion and concern.
The man broke away from his smile, instead looking somewhat surprised, and then suddenly very apologetic. "Oh, pardon me! I was just so excited, I forgot to introduce myself…" He smacked himself in the head. "Ahh, how could I make Dr. Marcus introduce himself first? That's so…disrespectful! I'm so sorry, Doctor. Please forgive me!" He bowed several times, not stopping until Marcus spoke.
"No, please stop, it's fine." He raised his hands, signaling that it was okay to stop bowing so much.
This guy definitely seemed…interesting. Still, he continued. "Why not just tell me your name, instead? I can assume you're a fan of mine, but a name would be nice."
The man quickly stood up straight, nodding as he returned to his big grin. "Yes, I'm a huge fan! I've seen all of your work in the papers and magazines, and I was even able to see footage of some of your lectures, too!" He then frowned, realizing he still didn't get to the question. "Oh, my name!" He smiled again. "My name's Brandon Bailey!" He exclaimed cheerfully.
Marcus warmly smiled and nodded, holding out his hand. "Well then, it's nice to meet you, Bailey. I'm always happy to meet a fan."
The man, Bailey, looked shocked at his offered hand, then quickly beamed as he shook it rather vigorously. "It's very nice to meet you too, Dr. Marcus!"
Releasing his hand, Bailey suddenly scratched at the back of his head awkwardly. "Ah, sorry for being so…hyper. It's just that I'm such a huge fan, and I'm also really surprised to see you here. I didn't know you lived in Raccoon City too. Have you been here long?"
He nodded, setting down his bag of groceries—figuring this conversation might take a while. "Yes, my entire life, in fact. It certainly has changed much since my childhood, however." He glanced around, seeing the large amount of tall buildings and houses around, before returning his gaze to the young man. "When I was a child, it was a much smaller town. Maybe twenty-thousand people, at best. It was much emptier, too, not nearly as many buildings. This whole area looked abandoned back then, actually. It didn't even have any plants or trees, either…" He then realized he was talking too much, smiling awkwardly. "Ah, my apologies. I'm rambling now. My old age must be getting to me."
The young man standing across from him had been staring very attentively, then shook his head quickly. "Oh, no, I think it's interesting. I only moved here about seven years ago when I was starting college, so it already looked pretty developed by then. I can't even imagine what it must have looked like before being developed, so it's nice to hear about it." He smiled cheerfully. "Besides, Dr. Marcus. Aren't you only forty-six? You still have a lot of years left in you!"
The doctor chuckled, then nodded once. "I suppose that's true. I certainly feel old, though. My back isn't what it used to be; you know…"
Bailey crossed his arms, shaking his head. "Well you better take good care of yourself, Doctor. You have a lot of amazing research to contribute to the world still, you can't croak already! It would be such a tragedy! I'd be really upset, too."
The man's sincerity caught Marcus off-guard. He was certainly a huge fan, no doubt about it. Marcus had met some fans in the past, but none as devoted as this kid. It was pretty overwhelming, but also nice. He was very flattered.
Marcus shook his head this time, still smiling. "Would it be? I appreciate you saying so." He chuckled again. "You know, I've never met someone that admired me so much. With that kind of dedication, you may as well become my student!" He laughed, not at all noticing the sudden incredibly intense face that the man across from him had been making.
After a few seconds of silence, Bailey spoke, still appearing very serious. "Really? I could? Really?!" His intense gaze quickly changed to one of excitement. For a brief moment, Marcus swore he could see stars in his eyes…
"I, uh…" He stumbled, not having anticipated the man's misunderstanding.
He internally sighed. This could be a problem… He didn't want to hurt the man's feelings, but he had been only joking. Still, he seemed to be such a huge fan… But he couldn't just say sure, right? He didn't need a student…
Well…maybe I should have a protégé… I'm getting older, I don't have children… It would be a shame if I never have anyone to take over my work, leaving my work unfinished and my legacy forgotten…
He gulped. The idea was starting to actually make sense to him. But it was much too sudden! These decisions cannot be made lightly. But the young man had continued to stare at him, his smile unwavering.
Marcus sighed, externally this time. He then reverted to his warm smile, not wanting to give the man the wrong idea. "Well…perhaps… But such a decision takes time. Surely you can't drop everything in your life to become my student. You must still be in school, aren't you?"
Bailey shook his head quickly. "Nope. I just got my master's degree last year, majored in virology. I'm not planning on going back for my doctorate, not yet at least. I was actually hoping I'd be able to become a research assistant, since that would give me the experience I'd need to eventually become a full-fledged virologist." He grinned cheerfully, hoping very much that the man would now be sure about taking him under his wing.
Marcus gulped again, feeling a trickle of sweat running down the side of his head. He definitely had done it now…
He cursed himself for being so weak-willed. In his younger days, he would have simply said no right off the bat. Or actually, he never would have made the joke in the first place. He would have just said something like "You're a fan, great. Are we done here?" The thought made him reflect on how impolite he had been back then. That would be a pretty rude thing to say, so he was actually glad that he became nicer over the years. Still, it did make situations like this difficult…
"Erm…well…" He trailed off, really not sure what else to say. But before he could continue, he saw the man suddenly shake his head.
"You know, it's okay if you changed your mind. I won't be upset! Well…maybe a little disappointed, but still…" He was still smiling, though his eyes did show a faint bit of sadness. He then tilted his head, seemingly thinking. "Although, now that I think about it… You were probably joking anyway, weren't you? That makes more sense… Urgh, I'm so stupid…" He looked down, facepalming.
He had looked so sad; Marcus had no choice. For the sake of his conscience, he needed to take action.
"Actually, I think you'd be a great student, and I'd be happy to have you. Although I must be honest, it was indeed a joke. However, it did make me think…" He smiled, noticing the formerly sad man look up, seeming interested. "There's still so much I intend to do, so much research, so many experiments… Yet even I am unable to evade the passage of time, so many things will be left unfulfilled. And without any children, I have no hopes of anyone being able to accomplish those things in my stead…unless I were to acquire a protégé."
Bailey's expression had gradually become more and more excited as Marcus continued his explanation. By the time he finished talking, he was positively beaming. "S-so…you really do mean it? You really will take me on as your student?!"
Marcus nodded, smiling warmly. "Yes, I do mean it. That is, if you wish to acce—"
"Of course I'll accept!" He exclaimed joyfully, cutting off the older man.
He smiled awkwardly. "Yes, I expected as much…"
Bailey, in his excitement, suddenly started pacing back and forth in circles. "Oh I'm so excited! This is so insane! I had no idea that I would end up meeting you on this trip, never mind becoming your student! I was only going to the store to get some food, but I got so much more! I'm so happy, I don't even care about food! I might never eat again!"
Marcus chuckled, shaking his head as he picked up his own grocery bag. "I wouldn't recommend that. It's how you end up having nothing to eat but water."
The young man looked at him puzzledly for a moment, but quickly dismissed it and continued his rambling. "Still, this is great! What are we gonna research first, Dr. Marcus? Your latest work concerned the alterations of the molecular structure and possible physical capabilities of leeches in recent years, are we gonna work on that? That's a really interesting field of study, too, if I must say! Not many scientists focus on that, but you were the one to see potential and go for it! Really amazing! I thought you had outdone yourself on your discovery of a cure for that new infectious virus going around, but you never cease to amaze!"
Marcus raised his hand dismissively, embarrassed from all of the praise. "Please, that's quite enough. Besides, we've only just met, there's no need to jump into research just yet. Here, why don't you join me for dinner later? I'm having…" He trailed off, glancing into his grocery bag for ideas. "…cans of chicken noodle soup." Not the most magnificent meal, but it serves its purpose well enough.
Bailey stopped his rant, thinking about the offer. He then quickly nodded, still smiling. "Oh, I'd love to! I guess I probably should eat something, huh. I haven't eaten at all today."
It was almost six in the evening. Marcus internally facepalmed. It seemed that he already had something in common with this kid…
"Honestly… You really should try to maintain a healthy eating schedule. You're still so young, you need to try to keep yourself in good shape. You don't want to end up like me, buying groceries after days of not eating." Marcus began lecturing him, a habit he's obtained after all the years of giving students lectures.
Bailey crossed his arms, still smiling, and nodded. "Sure, if you say so, I'll try to do better. But…" He trailed off, his smile becoming mischievous. "I bet you don't eat much because you're so busy with your research, huh? You're such a hard worker! You say I don't want to end up like you, but I'd love to! Such dedication and devotion. It's no wonder you became such a big name in science so quickly, you must work nonstop!"
Marcus sighed, shaking his head. "That's not exactly something to be proud of…"
Ignoring his remark, Bailey continued praising Marcus the entire way over to his house. Even while they were eating their chicken noodle soup, he would say some compliment or another after each spoonful.
Marcus really began to wonder what he was getting himself into, but he couldn't deny that the kid's energy was refreshing, to say the least. He had been starting to feel somewhat lonely, too, so it was nice to have a friend again. It made things less mundane, for sure.
Bailey also quickly proved himself as a great student, always eager to help and very intelligent. They ended up spending most of their time together, with Bailey even actively aiding in some of Marcus' discoveries on several occasions.
Marcus also eventually convinced him to eat and rest more properly. In turn, Bailey started nagging him to do it as well, so they both started being a little healthier.
Their meeting was unexpected, and their partnership was even more unexpected. But Marcus was glad for it. And in time, Bailey began to feel like the son he never had.
But before long, their research would end up taking an unforeseen turn.
They would soon be receiving a request from Spencer, leading them on a sudden and dangerous quest…
