Author: Smallest chapter yet, do excuse that.
July 11, 1967 (6:00 PM).
Marcus groaned as he stirred in his makeshift bed. His eyes fluttered open and he sighed, sitting up and running a hand slowly through his hair. He got up and flipped on the lights, searching for clothes. He felt comfortable sleeping in his underclothes.
Once secured he carried his chosen outfit to the bathroom for a shower. He needed one.
The warm water easily washed over him and calmed his hectic senses, which were grouchy from waking up. He was always grouchy when first woken up.
He turned the knob, the water slowing to a drip as he climbed out to dry himself several minutes later and shaved his growing stubble. It was driving him crazy. After he shaved and brushed his teeth he got dressed in his clothes. A classic set of dress pants and a dress shirt. Today he wouldn't be in the labs.
He remembered that Mark was supposed to be here sometime today. He would need to greet him and Spencer.
He left his temporary room, moving down the hallway to enter into the main lobby area. He glanced to the stairs and proceeded to move up them, but he paused, hearing voices coming closer.
Four forms were advancing down the hallway toward him and so he waited to see who they were.
They stopped when they reached the stairs and glanced up at him. He blinked. Lucy? Selby? Mark? And who was the young lady beside him? She looked kind of like him. Daughter, perhaps?
"James!" Lucy smiled up at him.
"Hello." He descended the stairs to join them. "Nice to see you again, Mark. Selby, you look as beautiful as always." He said.
Selby snorted. "Yeah, yeah." She replied offhandedly.
"James, this is my daughter, Saria. Saria, this is James Marcus, one of the founder's of Umbrella." Mark did the introduction, gesturing to the people the names belonged to; the girl and James.
Marcus bowed at the waist and took her hand, kissing the back of it gently. He felt her pull her hand away awkwardly and he chuckled before standing straight. "The pleasure is mine."
The girl was studying him closely and this intrigued him. He directed his attention to Selby, his eyes now skeptic. "Have you finally come out of your dark and dingy hole to greet those of us in the sunlight?" He asked mockingly.
She scowled at him. "Dark and dingy hole? What are ya, dumb? Nay, I much prefer the depths of darkness to the glaring touch of the sunlight." Her accent was heavy as she said this and certain words rolled ever so interestingly because of it such as 'prefer', 'darkness' and 'sunlight'.
James chuckled more at this. "Calm down." He said while laughing. "No need to get upset."
She frowned deeply and held out her palm before jerking her thumb towards her chest. "I am calm. When am I ever not?" She then crossed her arms, glaring away.
"Anyway." Marcus said, getting seriously. "Mark, we need to talk. You'll be glad to hear of the results we've recieved on ten."
"Ah!" Mark clapped his hands, rubbing them together almost hungrily. "A sacrifice most worthy of use! I shall visit the lab soon to see for myself." He turned to Selby and Lucy, but Lucy had vanished down the hallway leaving the four alone. "Selby!"
The woman turned her head to acknowledge Mark's words. "Take my daughter to her room on the upper floor. Get her situated, please."
The woman sighed, but nodded. "Not fond of babysitting, though I can manage surely enough." She grabbed the girl's wrist and started up the stairs, dragging the young lady with her, who was protesting at the force.
This left Marcus and Mark alone.
"How is he?" Mark asked, cocking his head to the side.
"Sleeping, from the drugs. He passed the initial procedure. Results should be here today, if not hours ago." Marcus nodded his head as if answering that the boy was ok.
"Good, good." Mark mused.
"There's something I've been meaning to ask, Mr. Wesker." Marcus rubbed at his chin.
"Huh?" The younger man was curious of this question. He had an idea as to what it was because Marcus had asked him it at the start but he never answered.
"Why the use of your own flesh and blood?"
Indeed, the question he knew was bothering Marcus.
"For proper results they need to have superior genes. My genes are of that level, apparently. In fact all of the Wesker family has enhanced genes. It's why Caroline was willing to have her own be apart of this." Mark replied in a soft tone.
"What does your wife and oldest son think of this?" The founder questioned him with a slight frown.
"Nolan knows nothing of it as he will soon be back in the military. Marissa denies it, but she will not speak against me as I told her the task will make our children stronger."
"I admire you, yet loathe you." Marcus shrugged.
"Admire and loathe? Why so?"
"Admire because you're furthering science and the field of which I love. Loathe because you are doing what I could not and with the use of your children." Marcus sighed and turned his back to his colleague as if to leave.
"I see." The younger said softly.
"Well, I need to go see Spencer. Mind yourself as well as that child of yours." Marcus threw his hand up in a farewell gesture as he walked down the hallway they had came from.
"You too." Mark mumbled.
Marcus smiled as he walked, unsure how to proceed. Show Mark the child and get his thoughts on it? So far the boy was like the rest. He survived the first step and was now in the process of the virus taking over his system.
The virus.. His thoughts turned to those little rare flowers they had discovered and the joy they would provide for them, especially after being combined with that other virus they had acquired. They could achieve their goals, all in due time. Yes, due time indeed.
The virus needed love and care.. as did his leeches.