Leech-Shaped Hole in My Heart

by Ivyblade80

Betrayal. Revenge. These two words encompass the very being of Dr. James Marcus, a man so filled with rage that his soul cannot rest until he destroys those who have wronged him. Even death was not enough to keep him from acting on his revenge. He has been given a second chance at life, and he fully intends to make use of it. Now, he will have his revenge on Umbrella...

1. Old Friends

The sound of water sloshing around echoed throughout the room. It was a small room, containing no more than the metal pathways that stood above dark green water. Not a single fish swam around, nor did any bugs crawl about. The room seemed entirely devoid of life, save for the man lying on the ground. The entirety of his body had been submerged in the chill of the water, yet his head was exposed as it laid propped up against the cool metal bars. His presence here was not new, however. His body had lingered in this room for nearly ten years, ever since that fateful day…

Each day it had continued to rot. Grey pieces of skin fell away along with strands of thin white hair, both drifting along the endless supply of water. What little skin was left had scarcely covered the man's nearly bare bones, each one protruding sharply against the remains of his decayed body. His clothes had been tattered, countless holes of unequal sizes covering the fabric of his formerly pristine suit. A majority of the blood-soaked material had been dyed a deep brown, a perpetual reminder of the tragedy that had befallen him.

He looked, in every sense of the word, dead. And he was, for a while. Yet such an unsightly appearance no longer suited him. In recent months, every aspect of him began to shift into a form wholly contradictory to his previous state.

Gradually, color returned to his sagging, rotting skin as it turned to a smooth, milky white tone. All wrinkles vanished without a trace, now replaced by a clear and youthful complexion. As his hair grew and turned to a dark shade of brown, it became much thicker and grew to reach just below his shoulders.

His torn clothes fell away and floated along with the flow of the river. In their place had been a white robe, distinctly angelic in appearance. It exposed a slight bit of his toned chest, with a thick rope tied around his waist to ensure that it held securely. Intricate blue designs decorated the upper arms, and the shade was a perfect match for the sapphire embedded in his silver diamond-shaped necklace. The neck of the attire had triangle-like pieces of fabric extending from it, adding to the overall eye-catching design. Finally, the outfit was complimented by the weighty silver bracelet adorning his left wrist. Yet despite being very elaborate, the outfit did not come with shoes, leaving his feet exposed.

Regardless of how much the man had changed physically in these last few months, the fact remained that he had persisted in this place so lifelessly, for so long. But soon, things were bound to 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 had been restored to its prime without error. But mentally…he was not yet prepared.

His mind constantly changed. It became enveloped in every memory that had transpired throughout his life. These memories haunted him, each one 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 stir him from his formerly eternal rest. He could do nothing but sort through them in his subconscious, awaiting the moment in which he could finally awaken from this nightmare.

He could do nothing, until he finally remembered who he was, and why he was here.

…In that moment, he realized. The reason he was here… The reason he had been stuck in this cold, desolate place for so long, doing nothing but rotting away, was because…

He was Dr. James Marcus. And ten years ago…

He was assassinated.

---

May 22nd, 1942

---

The story of his assassination began in the distant past, all of it starting with his old friend, Oswell E. Spencer. The two of them had gone to the same university, where Marcus had been well-recognized throughout the school. He was known for getting perfect grades on every exam, as well as having the overall best grades in each of his classes. Throughout all of the years he had been at this school—since fall of 1936—no one had ever stood a chance of competing with him.

That is, until Spencer arrived. He was younger than Marcus, and he had only enrolled in the prior September, but he quickly proved himself to be a worthy match. His grades were on-par with even those of Marcus', so it was only natural that word of his intelligence quickly got around.

In spite of the two never having met each other personally, it was clear that they had developed a sort of rivalry. A competition in which they were silently fighting to be known as the most intelligent student in the school.

Whenever one of them would get a perfect score on an exam, they would feel a smug sense of accomplishment in knowing that they'd be one step closer to becoming known as the smartest student. But of course, the other one would end up doing just as well, resulting in neither one actually getting the title they felt they deserved. This continued on for a while, until a chance meeting in the library caused them to finally make their official introduction to one another.

The young man had been sitting at his usual spot in the empty corner of the library, books piled up so high that they appeared to be taller than he was. His expression held an intensity that most would find somehow frightening, particularly because of the burning passion held deeply with his pale blue eyes. Yet that passion might have seemed contradictory to the fact that his appearance was, as a whole, rather sickly-looking—at least in comparison to many of his peers.

His skin was incredibly pale, to the point that many would assume he hadn't been in the sun for the last few years. Beneath his eyes had been prominent dark circles, and there were many days where his eyes were awfully bloodshot, clearly alluding to the fact that he must have been up all night studying once again.

His long, dark brown hair always messily hung just below his shoulders. He never put much effort into its appearance, nor did he ever bother to tie it into a ponytail like many of the other long-haired students did. It might have been more convenient to do so, since it wouldn't end up getting in his way while he had his nose buried in a book. But of course, he was adamant on the fact that doing anything more with it was a waste of time, and that he had much better things to worry about than his hairstyle. That indifference to it was likely a large part of the reason that he allowed it to continue growing, rather than getting it cut shorter. But in all honesty, he also did like the length as it was, even though he'd never admit to it.

As usual, he wore a formal student's outfit. It was a white long-sleeved dress shirt with a blue and white-striped tie. He did have his black slacks on as well, although the matching jacket had been removed at the moment. But beyond that, there hadn't been anything out of the ordinary, really.

Yet in spite of having such a plain outfit—the same outfit as the other students, even—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 gawking at him with puzzled expressions, quietly whispering amongst themselves. What they had been saying, he couldn't know. It was possible that he didn't need to know, either, but admittedly he was just a tad curious as to the reason.

It might 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 more handsome than the boring and dull appearances of many of his peers, if nothing else.

However, if not for his appearance, he assumed they must have been staring because they were jealous. Being among the most intelligent people at the school had its pros and cons, with one of the cons being that those of inferior intelligence would always resent you for it.

At this point, he was more than used to their vulgar looks and the 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 knew were below him would be nothing more than the undertaking of a fool. He would simply ignore them, continuing his studies in peace.

Perhaps he seemed arrogant, as he often did view 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 simply went without saying that he was better than all of his peers, and even the other students knew not to question it.

Although, he truthfully couldn't help but feel disappointed in that fact. It was a very good school, one that required his parents to spend a long time saving up so that he could attend it. So, naturally, there should have been plenty of highly intelligent people in attendance, ones that even he could learn from. He was actually looking forward to that possibility.

Instead, he came to find that most of the students were of average, or even worse, intelligence. The only reason they were able to attend was because their parents were wealthy enough to send them to it with ease. And unsurprisingly, most of those students cared more about making friends and partying than actually studying or learning.

Marcus scoffed at those people. Not at all because they were able to so easily pay for their attendance, for 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 aiming to make the most of it? He suspected that many of them would fail, as they should. At any rate their money wouldn't be totally wasted—they probably enjoyed the parties.

Very much unlike those people, Marcus took his education very seriously. He had spent all twenty-three years of his life with a strong dedication to learning. Even as a toddler, he had been very curious and determined to discover new things. It came as 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 in the process, 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 would one day be a tremendous benefit to humanity, so it was only normal for him to feel confident in it. He knew that someday—all of those fools would regret their harsh judgement of him.

In the future, he'd create something that would alter their lives forever! Then, everyone would look back on Dr. James Marcus fondly, an incredible and highly successful man that changed the world with his extraordinary intelligence. It was a lovely thought, it helped drive him toward 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.

And no matter how far away his goals might have been, he would continue to spend these years expanding his knowledge. That would help give him a better idea on how he'd change the world, when the time comes. He already had ideas, but nothing was set in stone yet. But all that aside, right now he only needed to focus on his studies, ignoring the foolish masses and their even more foolish opinions of him.

That's what he planned to do now, as well. That is—if not for the man who bumped into his table and caused the enormous pile of books to fall and scatter, producing many loud thumps and thuds in the process.

"Hm? Oh, well isn't that unfortunate…" He mumbled to himself indifferently as he stared at the fallen books, the impassive tone of his voice betraying the seemingly concerned words. Brushing his light-brown bangs aside, he gave a dismissive half-shrug.

The source of the voice was a man of average height with sharp features that flattered his deep blue eyes. His hair was short, yet long enough to form a small, tight ponytail. He had a youthful face, with a childlike smirk appearing as though it were a permanent feature of his appearance.

His outfit was more embellished than the customary uniform, 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 have been quite a fancy undershirt. He also wore 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 peculiar sight. Why was he wearing such overly extravagant clothes? It looked more like he was attending a ball, rather than a school. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised given the average wealth of the 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 perhaps 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. Once he had their attention, he pointed to the mess of books covering the floor. Marcus initially rose a brow at the odd motions, but he was even more shocked to see the student actually scurrying over to follow the silent demand given to him. The books were swiftly picked up and placed into a neat pile, as they formerly were. The man dismissed the student, who immediately went back to his table.

With a smile far more proud than polite, he 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 student who enrolled not too long ago, and of course, he was also known as his competition for being the number one student at the school. Despite being a few years younger than him, his intellect rivaled even Marcus'. The thought was actually somewhat irritating. Someone so much younger shouldn't have been able to even come close to posing a threat to him, and yet, here he was.

But oh well. He was actually appreciative of the fact that he finally had some competition, even if it took quite a while for it to happen. It was a breath of fresh air, considering how he had been dealing with nothing but absolute morons for the past few years.

Aside from that, he was never all that familiar with what the man looked like. It wasn't as if he paid no attention whatsoever; rather, it was that he only ever had brief glances at him while groups of students would crowd around him, each one praising him for his latest accomplishments on his exams and whatnot.

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, but never anything special. And while he did prefer 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, with a blank expression. After a few seconds of a particularly awkward pause, he finally reluctantly shook it while maintaining 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. He sat across from him; his legs crossed as he quite evidently attempted to exude a sophisticated aura. "Again, my apologies. But in all fairness, it'd be quite difficult for me to not know of you, now wouldn't it? After all, your name is quite popular around here."

Marcus rested his cheek in his palm while his arm leaned on the table, his face displaying a look of exasperation. He was already at a loss as to why this man was still talking to him, never mind now sitting at the table with him. This might have been obvious, but Marcus was never the social type, so the thought of a longer conversation was quite irksome. Of course, it wasn't as if he was shy or anxious, nothing like that. He simply…didn't like talking to people. He didn't like people much in general, really.

He was an introverted man that preferred only the company of himself and his books, the way it was meant to be. Because of this, he tended to come across as rude to most people. He tried to be nice, sometimes, but it never worked out very well. His anti-social ways always ended up coming out at some point, and then ultimately, people would end up getting mad at him. That was a big part of the reason that he didn't have friends, though he fervently maintained the claim that he didn'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 become earl of the noble Spencer family. It's a position that demands a lot of respect, you can imagine. Stressful, yes, but quite rewarding." Despite his frown from a moment ago, he did seem quite proud of his position, given his eager expression.

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, it 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 his harsh words were enough to successfully bring this needless chat to an end.

It's not as if he wanted to be intentionally rude, but, well…he was most definitely rude regardless. Still, he felt he had no choice, as this would be precious time wasted otherwise. He really did just want to go back to studying…

Although, there was also something about this guy that seemed to grate on his nerves, too. The way he spoke politely to an obnoxiously excessive degree, and even smiling for absolutely no reason all the while. Combine that with his need to dress more sophisticatedly than everyone else, along with talking about his status despite no one having asked about it… It reminded him of someone who pretended to be nice so that they could keep a good reputation, all so that they could stab them in the back the moment that the need arose…

…Of course, Marcus did have a general lack of trust in people, so he might have been simply trying to find reasons to dislike him. He was unsure of the exact cause for those exceptionally withdrawn behaviors of his, but he had been the same way ever since he was a child. No matter who tried to get him to open up and become his friend, he was certain to push them away.

However, he refused to think of this as a negative trait. It was smart to be weary so that one could 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 frankly didn't care to be right.

Regardless, back to the problem at hand. The man, Spencer, was clearly confident—that much was certain. Marcus was fairly confident in himself too, and he could easily admit it. 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, probably put quite a lot of worth into his status. Too much worth, most likely.

Status was fine in itself, but it often tended to cloud one's judgement. If someone intended to have a career outside of it, they would never fully excel on that path unless they gain the resolve to leave their personal status on the backburner. Otherwise, they might be susceptible to the risk of spending too much time on maintaining that position, rather than focusing on what was at the heart of their desires.

It also went without saying that people with a high standing would likely end up having an inflated ego as a result, which might cause them to overestimate the skills that they did 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, there was no denying that Spencer was smart, so it was possible that he already knew all of this. He might not even have been as arrogant as Marcus thought, though it'd be surprising given his perpetually smug demeanor throughout this entire conversation.

In addition, Marcus did consider himself to be an excellent judge of character, so he was fairly certain that he was correct in his initial judgement of disliking the man. Those that he hadn't liked have never given him a reason to change his opinion…although admittedly, they never had gotten the chance.

Only time could tell, he supposed. Then again, he didn't really care enough to know. After all, this would surely be the last time they spoke, thanks to Marcus' rather impolite comment from moments ago.

The man's smile faded, quickly becoming a much more serious and somehow intimidating expression. "Straight to the point, are we?" He asked with a slight narrowing of his eyes. "It is true, friends do tend to speak to each other, and we aren't exactly friends at the moment. And it was, of course, a mere 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 properly introduce myself. After all, surely you have felt the same way that I feel—that sense of rivalry between us."

He tilted his head inquisitively as he prepared to speak once more. "I'm well-aware that you have been at this university for far longer than I have, but it goes without saying that we are both renowned for being the most intelligent students in the school. And obviously, those with superior intellect will always feel the need to rise even higher. Therefore, it's only natural that we would both feel the need to surpass each other, is it not?"

Marcus persisted with his frown, although he was honestly more confused than annoyed at this point. This conversation certainly took an unexpected turn, but Marcus couldn't deny that he did feel that sense of rivalry between them, and he naturally did want to surpass others in terms of intelligence. Nevertheless, he remained unable to understand the man's intentions. Was it truly only an introduction to a rival, or did he have some sort of ulterior motive? Since he was forced into this conversation against his wishes, he might 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 and not wishing to waste any time. "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, we can be rivals without needing to know each other. That's how it's been for all of this time, hasn'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. But soon after, he forced a smile and 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 truly good scientist knows that they require an equal of significant intelligence in order to challenge their beliefs."

With a tilt of his head, his smirk grew in confidence. "But with our intellect, any ordinary man in the field could never compare. Their objections to our theories would be pitiful, not to mention outright shameful. I'm sure you've noticed this even with the other students, haven't you? Their intelligence is, by far, inferior to ours. Which is truthfully quite strange, considering this is one of the best schools in the country…" He noticed Marcus' eyes widen for a brief second, which immediately caused 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 even better in our chosen fields, don't you agree? Two men with extraordinary intelligence working together as equals... A lovely thought, yes?" 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, Marcus was unable to say with certainty that he was wrong in his conclusions. Like him or not, he was unquestionably smart. To have him as an equal in his career would certainly be a great benefit. He'd be a fool to deny it.

But the thought of having…a friend... 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.

Additionally, he only met this man ten minutes ago. Why on earth would he want to be his friend? He knew nothing about him, other than the fact that he was smart and apparently in line to become the next earl of his family—thanks to him feeling the need to broadcast that information for no real reason. But what else did he know? Nothing! He could never trust a man that he only just met. That'd be downright ridiculous.

And yet…while he could just refuse the suggestion…that would be stupid. Would he really forfeit the chance to become a better scientist simply because he didn't like the guy? Simply because he didn'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 needed to put his personal doubts about the man aside, at least for his own sake.

After a moment of deep thought, he sighed quite exasperatedly. "Yes, I do suppose you're right." Yet in spite of his agreement, he did cross 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." His eyes drifted shut as he took on a more serious expression. "To be quite honest, your manners are desperately in need of some work."

Marcus scoffed 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 sincerely 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, although it was lacking in genuine substance.

"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 slowly—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 finally just remembered that they were in a library, and there were several students nearby…and each one was sending unsettled glances his way.

He immediately sat down and slumped back in his chair; his arms still crossed in defiance. "…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, appearing to actually need some time to think about it. After a moment, he spoke. "Hm. I suppose not. I know many nobles 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."

This did go on for a while, with seemingly no end in sight. Such a conversation was pointless, and 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…perhaps it was nice.

---

Marcus and Spencer ended up spending most of their free time together over 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 extremely frequently, and they disagreed on most practical matters, but they did enjoy each other's company…usually.

Marcus eventually started to grow accustomed to the idea of having a friend and stopped being so distrustful of Spencer's motives. He finally was capable of understanding that they really were just friends, trying to help each other become even more intelligent in their future lines of work.

He did retain his rather discourteous attitude, but Spencer had been the same way with him, seeing as both of them often made jokes at the other's expense. Still, it was all in good humor, and it might have been the very thing that helped Marcus open up enough to the point of being able to appreciate the friendship. He'd certainly 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 much better this way.

They would often study together and compare their research. Despite 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. 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 held 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 man of the sciences was nothing without the desire to break every boundary, accomplishing things that no one would have ever thought possible.

Marcus was no stranger to big ambitions either. Sure, he did want to create cures to some of the world's illnesses. That much was basically a given in his field of study. And he would end up doing things such as that, most likely. But on the other hand, he also considered the idea of creating some sort of substance that could greatly enhance human abilities. Strength, intelligence, et cetera… Not merely 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 the entire world forever.

Lofty though it might have been, he was confident that he could accomplish it. Then, all of those stupid students that thought harshly of him would finally 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

---

On a scorching summer afternoon, Marcus had been drenched in sweat and on the verge of passing out. Additionally, the humidity certainly hadn't been doing him any favors, as his hair had become frizzy and began to stick out in the most unpleasant of ways. He was already at the point of desperately wanting to go home…or perhaps just under the shade of a tree so he could give up and die. Either one would do just fine, but unfortunately, neither had been a possibility at the present moment.

The reason he was currently in this mess was that he was on his way to Spencer's house—or rather, his mansion. Or more specifically, one of his mansions. He did have a lot of those, but this was the one he was currently staying at while living in America.

Spencer had come from somewhere in Europe, so his primary residence remained there as well. Where exactly on the continent it had been—Marcus wasn't sure. Oddly enough, the man never spoke about his home much. Although, perhaps it was simply because he had so many homes. He must have had mansions all over the place, so it wasn't as if he had only one residence that he could call his home. Regardless, he had moved here temporarily for his schooling, so he would return to Europe once he was finished.

Spencer promised that even after returning home, he'd still come to visit Marcus on occasion. Otherwise, he could always send a private plane to bring Marcus over for a visit, as well. He would be able to stay at one of Spencer's summer villas—a luxury mansion possessing beauty, comfort, and most importantly…air-conditioning.

Marcus hadn't cared about the suggestion initially, as he was still spiteful enough to say that he didn't need to see Spencer any longer once he was gone. He would be perfectly fine on his own, so the man didn't need to force his presence where it wasn't needed. However, at the current moment…he sure was longing for that summer villa right about now. The thought alone of being in the cool air conditioning made him feel like he ascended to heaven, which caused him to worry that he might have actually died along the way. Thankfully, he still had a pulse.

After this long and excruciating journey, he finally made it to what he believed was his destination. He stared at the paper in his grasp, and then at the nearby sign with an address clearly written on it. It definitely was the right place, and it wasn't as if there were a ton of castles sitting around here, anyway…

Taking a minute to catch his breath, he finally reached for the golden door handle. It was designed with a clear elegance, and it had been the sort where the ring was to be lifted and banged against the door.

And while he did do that, the weight of the handle caught him off guard at first. He figured it must have been made from real gold, since it was really heavy. He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised, though. Naturally…why wouldn't it be made of real gold? It was Spencer's mansion. If he could afford a mansion—and then some—then Marcus was fairly sure that he could afford a solid gold door handle.

After a few seconds, the door resounded with a soft creak to announce its opening. 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 presently in the dining hall. Please, allow me to escort you."

At this unnervingly sophisticated display, Marcus gulped uneasily. He really wasn't cut out for this sort of fancy etiquette, but he couldn't let that stop him after he already came all this way. Slowly stepping through the door, he trailed behind the butler.

This was actually the first time that Marcus decided to pay Spencer a visit at his actual estate. During their usual study sessions, they tended to stay at Marcus' house—much to Spencer's chagrin over such a bland choice of scenery. Although he still did live with his parents at this time, so at the least, his mother was always very kind and made sure that Spencer wanted for nothing while staying there. But apparently, that kindness was not nearly enough for his privileged friend.

As a result, they would occasionally change their meetup location to one with a slight bit of extravagance, a café. This was an annoyance to Marcus, who often made certain to voice his displeasure at the thought of studying in public. They truly couldn't agree on anything, which was the reason Spencer had invited him to his estate on several occasions, always promising that it truly was the best setting for a place of study.

Of course, Marcus declined every time. It was a bit outside of the city, so he needed to take a lengthy train ride, as well as walking for about another fifteen minutes. The overall trip took just over two hours, which was an amount of time that he wasn't very happy to squander. Obviously, he still did utilize that time to get a head start on his reading, so it wasn't a total waste. That didn't stop him from complaining about it, however…

Well, in spite of his usual resolve to decline his friend's invitations, he did end up accepting on this instance. For some reason, Spencer was particularly adamant on them meeting here today, much more so than usual. With all of the pestering he put him through over the past weeks, Marcus had finally surrendered to the man's request.

Part of his justification was that they had already known each other for three years, and Spencer still did visit him at his home on many occasions, even if he did always complain about it. It was only fair that Marcus finally repaid the favor…but of course, he would be sure to complain about it afterward.

He already was compiling a nice list of things to grumble about. For one, Spencer could have picked a better season for the visit. Spring or fall would have been ideal, but even winter would have been an acceptable alternative. He had a strong preference for milder temperatures, so winter wasn't exactly one that he wished to accept. And yet, even the extreme chill of the wintry weather was a blessing in comparison to the disgusting burn of that horrific heat…

That aside, another problem with visiting Spencer was that he could never get used to how…rich, he was. Between the fancy castles, the fancy butlers, and even the fancy door handles… It was all quite overwhelming for a man such as himself. The contrast between he and Spencer's ways of living had been so different. Upon seeing the two together, one might have been given the impression that he was a mere country bumpkin—despite not even being from the countryside.

Furthermore, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed at his appearance. Perhaps his clothes were fine; he did dress rather formally, although he had to admit that the butler surely had him beat in that category. But with the cursed heat he was subjected to throughout this journey, he had been sweating horribly. He was certain that he looked like a mess, and he didn't even want to think about what the humidity had been doing to his hair…

"We've arrived, Sir."

He was dragged out of his thoughts by the gentle voice of the man beside him. Looking up, he realized that they already arrived in an enormous dining hall. His first thought was that the hall might have been bigger than his entire house. He wasn't sure if that was actually true, but if nothing else, he could say with confidence that it was definitely a whole lot fancier.

There were pillars that embellished each side of the room, each one working in cohesion with the others to hold the weight of the second-floor balcony. The floors had been covered in a lavish crimson carpet, which posed a sharp contrast to the pure white of the rest of the room. The extensive table that stretched throughout the large space was a deep chestnut brown, with a multitude of matching chairs on both sides of it.

Given his observations, Marcus quickly noticed that the table seated not only Spencer, but another man, as well. The mysterious fellow had been sitting beside Spencer, gracefully sipping what appeared to be a cup of tea.

He had short blonde hair that seemed to have been combed very carefully, as there hadn't been even a single strand out of place. He wore a suit of deep purple, and the maroon of his ascot and white of his undersleeves had complimented it nicely. Even with his impassive expression, one could easily get a sense of the kindness that radiated from within. He held a very sophisticated air about him, and did give off the impression of being an aristocrat.

As Marcus walked toward the table, the man looked up at him. A calm smile formed on his lips, yet he did not speak.

Instead, Spencer was the one to speak first. He stood and bowed, looking towards his approaching friend with a smile. "Ah, Marcus, you've arrived. Right on time as well, but that comes as no surprise."

Directing his gaze toward him, Marcus attempted to speak, but the man quickly continued. "I'm sure you must 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 as if you could use a nice…freshening-up." He tried to hide his look of contempt, but it was to no avail.

Marcus frowned, but for once, he didn't argue it. He figured that it was true, and he didn't want to look uncharacteristically bad in front of a guest, anyhow. If it had been just Spencer, he might have spitefully refused, but he would be nice for the time being. "Uh…right… Where's the restroom?" He looked around the immediate vicinity, although a quick glance revealed that there was only one door aside from the entrance. That one likely led to another hallway, but perhaps the restroom was in that direction.

"I will guide you, Sir. Please, follow me." The butler from before was at his side in a moment. He looked to him with a calm smile before beginning to walk in the opposite direction. Marcus stumbled briefly at the man's abrupt reappearance, but he quickly regained his bearings and began to follow.

As he walked, many thoughts ran through his mind. Chiefly, he wondered who that man had been. Was he a friend of Spencer's, or perhaps even a relative? But more importantly, why was he here at this moment? Spencer had invited Marcus over on the basis of studying, and he certainly hadn't mentioned that anyone else would be there.

Unless this man dropped in as a surprise, or maybe he was just going to study with them. Marcus wasn't fond of company, so he really wouldn't have been thrilled by that prospect. But it would definitely be weird if the man didn't join them for their study session. What was he going to do—just sit there and watch them while they study? The most proper thing to do was surely to invite him to join them…

Despite his mind being filled with these questions, he knew that none of them could be answered until he "freshened-up," as Spencer had put it.

In what felt like an eternity—even though it was only five minutes—they arrived at the restroom. Marcus promptly thanked the butler and entered. He took care of his business, which included washing his face and combing his hair which, as he expected, was a frizzy disaster. A few minutes later, he was satisfied with his now-pleasant appearance, so he left, with the butler just outside to escort him back to the dining hall.

Upon their arrival, Spencer stood and bowed again, smiling with a semi-genuine politeness this time. "Welcome back." He greeted him cheerfully, although his smile didn't last long. Immediately, his expression shifted to a look of confusion. "Dare I ask what on earth had happened to you along the way? The majority of the trip was by train, yet you looked as if you walked the entire time…" His face turned grave as he suddenly looked intensely toward his friend. "You…you did take the train, yes?"

"What sort of fool do you take me for? Of course I did." He muttered in annoyance, taking a seat at the table beside Spencer. "But as you must know, I needed to walk for a little longer to reach the mansion. And perhaps you haven't noticed, but it's almost a hundred degrees outside. If the walk had been any longer, the only thing showing up at your doorstep would have been my corpse." He let out a heavy sigh and leaned back to relieve his exhaustion, just thankful to be in the lovely coolness of the mansion now.

The blonde man across from him chuckled, while Spencer merely rolled his eyes before speaking. "I believe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but all right." His smile returned as he took a sip of his tea. "I'm relieved that you did not die on the way, that certainly would have been unfortunate. And thankfully you look much more presentable now, as well."

"Yeah, yeah…" Marcus mumbled disdainfully. He was struck by the sudden thought that he should try to act more respectfully, seeing as there was company here. But the thought was short-lived, as he didn't see a point in doing so. He generally wasn't one to alter his attitude for the sake of making friends, which…did explain why the only friend he ever had was in this room. Regardless, no matter who this guy was, it frankly didn't matter if he liked Marcus or not. This was obviously a one-time meeting, anyway.

Spencer shook his head in disappointment at the man's complete lack of dignity before continuing. "Well, no matter… Let us move on to introductions, shall we?" He gestured to the quiet blonde man at the table. "Marcus, allow me to introduce you to my friend, Edward Ashford." Motioning to Marcus, he then looked to the man now known as Ashford. "And Ashford, this is my friend from the university, James Marcus."

Ashford immediately stood and bowed. After a moment, he raised his head and offered a hand to Marcus, who reluctantly shook it. "It's wonderful to meet you, Marcus. Spencer has told me very much about you."

He quickly looked to Spencer in annoyance before returning his gaze to Ashford. "I would like to think he spoke only of good things, but I won't get my hopes up too much."

"Ah yes, he told me you had quite a sense of humor as well. I can see he wasn't mistaken." He chuckled, oblivious to the fact that it hadn't actually been a joke.

Putting a stop to their chit-chat before it got too off-track, Spencer intervened. "Marcus, would you like some tea? I'll have Frankford pour you a cup."

Without even giving him a chance to respond, he called the butler—who was apparently named Frankford—over. "Lavender tea, one sugar, yes?" He looked to Marcus, who only nodded. The butler swiftly went to work.

As they waited, there was a somewhat awkward silence for a minute, until Spencer finally spoke again. "Well, I suppose I should clarify the reason that I arranged this meeting, hm?"

"Why, that'd certainly be nice." Marcus spoke sarcastically, apathetically leaning his chin on the back of his hands. Frankford then placed his cup of tea on the table, already having finished pouring it. Marcus thanked him as he stepped away.

"Yes, I would like to know the reason as well." Ashford added, staring at Spencer with a look of confusion. "I must say, it was a surprise to receive your invitation. It's rather unusual for you to invite one over without a social gathering or event coming up, is it not?"

Marcus was a bit surprised by the man's statement. He thought for sure that Ashford, at the least, would have already known the reason for this meeting, but apparently Spencer had kept both of them in the dark.

He nodded once as he spoke up. "Yes, well, Ashford and I have known each other for quite a while. We often had spoken with each other at dinner parties and such, although nothing significant came of it until recently." He briefly paused to take a sip of tea before continuing. "I learned that he, at his university in England, is in a similar field to us. He is another man of the sciences, with his primary focus being on virology. And he's very intelligent, I can attest to that." He immediately looked to Marcus, almost as if he knew he would be met with skepticism.

"Anyhow, I'd like to keep this brief. Overall, the point of this meeting is that 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?"

With a quick nod, Ashford was the first to speak. "That does sound like a nice idea. From what you've told me, Marcus is a very intelligent individual. I believe working with the two of you would be an exquisite idea." He smiled kindly, before it turned to a faint frown. "Although as I've told you, Spencer. I'm only staying in America for a brief while. I will need to return home soon, and thus will be unable to meet with you both all that often." Tilting his head, a thin smile returned to his expression. "However, we could communicate through letters, or perhaps over the telephone. And of course, I will try to visit whenever possible, if time permits it."

So, this really was just an introduction after all... Marcus thought to himself. He should have known it wasn't going to be anything too serious. Spencer had simply made a friend and wanted Marcus to be friends with him too. In the past, he would have been annoyed at how pointless this idea was. But now, he actually didn't mind it so much. He would go along with it…this time, at least.

"I don't really care one way or another." He quickly realized that must have sounded rude, so he attempted 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 apparently, he actually was willing to adjust his attitude to be somewhat more likable. Even more, this conversation hadn't been entirely dreadful to him. It was a surprise, for sure, but not something that was causing him any great level of grief.

The thought of how at peace he was with the situation was sort of refreshing…but also somewhat annoying. He supposed this was his life now; a life where he could actually hold a conversation without despising the very thought of it… It was pretty disappointing, if he was being perfectly 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 to be as full of himself as Spencer was, 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 have been a bad idea.

Although, he'd have to see for himself just how smart he really was. Spencer might have tried to assure him of his intelligence, but that wasn't exactly the most informative report. He would simply need to observe him as this little "friendship" grows.

However, even beyond that, he did have some doubts about the circumstances. Sure, it was beneficial for scientists to have equals in the field to help them grow, that still very much applied here. But had there been another point? Did he really almost die from heat exhaustion on the perilous journey solely to make a new friend? It was a valid question, as well as one that he was determined to find the answer to.

"Although," Marcus began with his eyes narrowed in incredulity. "What exactly will this trio do for us? Are we 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 apathetically. "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 sort of plan in place here, is there not?"

Spencer frowned and waved his hand dismissively. "I should have known you'd be the one to need every specific detail, I suppose." He 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."

He shrugged indifferently. "I'm not saying you had malicious intentions. I was only wondering if there was a deeper purpose to this meeting." Giving a half-shrug, he appeared to be very nonchalant about the entire subject. "But fine, then. Are you saying that you have no other motive? This is a basic introduction, and there's absolutely nothing else to be taken from it?" He narrowed his eyes, very doubtful about that possibility.

Spencer placed a hand on his chin as if he were deep in thought. "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 world-renowned within our chosen fields. We can save the world together, that sort of thing."

Marcus immediately rose a brow while Ashford only 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 was usually for good people, not…Spencer-types.

"My, 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 added calmly with a cheerful smile. "I'm sure with the three of us put together, we could surely accomplish something of the sort. I think it'd be wonderful, but…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, having been put on the spot against his will, 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 the two as a faint blush crept its way onto his cheeks.

"…I can't deny that it would be thrilling, actually changing the world in such a way… To actually save it…" His words had barely been audible as he attempted to contain his smile, with no success. It was impossible to suppress his eagerness, for it was in a scientist's nature to aspire for lofty ambitions. Cliché though it might have been, attempting to save the world—or at least something of that nature—was something that he was highly interested in.

Spencer gave a quick clap while a confident grin became clear in 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 promptly responded with a disgusted scowl.

Satisfied with having annoyed Marcus, he returned to a more serious demeanor 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 virology would be a perfect fit for me, particularly since 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.

Scoffing, he crossed his arms bitterly. "Was that latter comment truly necessary?" 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 actually be getting to studying today? Or was the study session simply a ruse to force this introduction upon me?" He rose a brow 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 added with a guilty smile. "But if you both don't have anything to do, we could still spend the rest of the afternoon together. I'll have the chef prepare us a grand feast."

"Wonderful. I am feeling a bit hungry, myself." Ashford agreed happily.

"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 caused him to settle down not long after his little outburst began. After a moment, he sighed in surrender. "Well…I suppose one afternoon of not studying won't hurt…" He spoke dejectedly with a pout.

---

Just as Ashford said, he did end up returning to England later that month. But before his departure, the three were able to spend some more time together. Marcus was relieved that they actually did study in the later meetings, rather than simply sitting around chatting and eating. And during their studies, Marcus was able to obtain a better grasp on Ashford's life and personality.

On the surface, he appeared to be a man with a temperament that was both calm and gentle, much like how he was in their first meeting. But beneath that exterior had been the drive of a passionate scientist. He, like the other two, strove to achieve new ambitions. His primary interest was in virology and eugenics, and part of his aspiration had been to one day change what was previously thought of with virological research. His hope was that he could actually manipulate a virus to make it a boon to humanity, rather than a bane. This hadn't been all that dissimilar to the desires of his new friends.

Ashford had several thoughts on how that goal could be accomplished, and while he certainly had the funding to pursue such research—he unfortunately did lack the initiative. It was such a grand ambition, and due to the fact that his recent family line had not been very involved in science, he was on his own and unsure of the steps that he needed 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. With them by his side, he was certain that his understanding of the field would improve in leaps and bounds.

In spite of his somewhat lacking scientific knowledge, he was surely an intelligent man regardless. He wasn't a novice, at the least, and the fact remained that he was still in college continuing to learn as well. He was still young, so indeed, anything could happen in the future.

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. While allies were beneficial to have, it was vital to have self-confidence in moving forward on your own, as well. He advised Ashford to work on that trait several times, and while he agreed that he would, Marcus wondered if it had fallen on deaf ears. It would be quite unfortunate if that had been the case. Not only was his desired virology career at stake, but his entire family legacy was, as well.

That had been 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 Ashford family, nor did he care to know. However, Ashford ended up telling him anyway. He mainly spoke of how their ancestor Veronica was an incredibly intelligent and magnificent woman that had led the family to the peak of prosperity. She was skilled in many subjects, which included various scientific fields. But because she had 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—he refused to let their legacy fall to ruin.

Marcus couldn't understand these things. What was it that made people so obsessed with their family legacies? Both Ashford and Spencer were always going on and on about their families. He guessed it must have been an aristocratic thing, because the thought of 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 prominent manager of it. His mother sold her homemade clothes in order to make some extra income, and she spent 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, of course, Marcus was not at all complaining about this. Even though his parents lacked a grand ambition for their own lives, they worked hard and saved their money for so long in order to send Marcus to college, all so that he could have the chance to achieve an ambition of his own. He was incredibly grateful to them, there was no question about that. Although the fact remained that they did not have a family legacy, so he had not been raised to place much value into the subject.

The thought did occur to him that perhaps someday he would create his own family legacy, regardless of his current views on it. Using the chance his parents had given him, he could possibly raise a family of scientists—a brilliant family line that would last for generations.

When he thought about it like that, he could somewhat understand the fascination with leaving behind a family legacy that could transcend his own mortality for ages to come. But overall, the entire topic sounded like a lot of unnecessary stress, so he still wasn't all that keen on the idea. He thought that it might be best if he simply tried to make his own legacy, without putting any pressure on his family to follow his same path. Regardless, his children would likely go on to create their own legacies too, without that needless burden forced upon them… He liked that idea better.

---

March 8th, 1964

---

The passage of time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. By 1949, Marcus had received his doctorate degree and finally graduated from college. And with that—he had finally done it! He officially became a scientist, with his major being in virology, along with a sharp focus on biochemistry as well as biology.

Those fifteen years since his graduation had been utilized with the goal of getting his foot through the door, all so that he could get his name out into the big-leagues. He would give lectures about his research at universities, do interviews for magazine articles, really just anything that could give him some sense of recognition.

Still, seeing as he wasn't actually accomplishing much as of yet—only talking about his research on hot topics in the field and discussing the occasional minor discovery he had—he wasn't particularly interested in the recognition itself. He wished to be known for the wondrous things he had done, not for what he wanted to do, nor for something relatively small that he did. But until the day he achieves that long-desired discovery of utter magnificence, this would be the next best thing.

Furthermore, he was paid for doing those interviews and lectures, and the money was quite valuable. He didn't wish to sound materialistic, but his research and experiments weren't exactly funding themselves. Thus, he did what needed to be done…

On a cool winter day, a gentle breeze was wafting through the air and rustling the bright green leaves that only recently began their return to the branches they once called home.

Marcus was on his way back from grocery shopping, all dressed for the exceptionally chilly day with his dark blue button-up coat on. Initially, he had left the house without a jacket—as that was most appropriate given the weather of the past week—only to feel as though he stepped into a freezer the moment he walked out of his front door. Needless to say, he went back in for the coat.

Going out to buy groceries was actually something that he hadn't done in a while. The only reason he even realized it was time to go shopping was because when he woke up and prepared to have breakfast, he noticed his fridge was entirely deprived of food. Nothing remained but a mere few bottles of water. Wanting something with a bit more…substance, he decided to pay a visit to the supermarket.

It wasn't as if money was the issue—he had more than enough of that these days. It truly was that he simply forgot, since he had been so preoccupied with his research. He was nearly glued to his desk at all times, always jotting something or another down on paper. When not at the desk, he would instead be at his worktable, conducting whatever the experiment of the day had been. As such, he tended to get so lost in his work that he was known to go days without eating, which led to him failing to pay any mind to his dwindling reserves.

Then, aside from his private research consuming his time, there were also the public appearances about his work that he needed to keep up with. With whatever time remained after that, he had occasionally phoned his old friends, Spencer and Ashford. The trio rarely got together these days, beyond the infrequent stays at Spencer's summer villa. So, as of now, they mostly resorted to discussions over the phone.

He still enjoyed his chats with them, but Marcus was, admittedly, a bit disappointed by the realization that they had grown so distant over the years. He always knew it was fated to happen, as they were all doing their own things and trying to achieve their dreams on their own. But knowing that didn't make the reality any less grim. Even a man who cherished solitude as much as he did could end up feeling lonesome from time to time.

With these thoughts in mind, he chuckled to himself, thinking of how sentimental he had become over the years. Having friends must have had a greater impact on him than he realized, apparently. Why, when he was younger, he would have been caught dead before admitting to something so humiliating…

"Oh my gosh! You're Dr. Marcus, aren't you? I can't believe it—you are! You really are!"

His wistful reflection had been interrupted by a light and cheery voice coming from behind him. Upon turning his head, he was greeted by the sight of the man responsible.

On first glance, he could see that he was young, surely no older than his early twenties. He was certainly tall, however, seeing as he nearly reached Marcus' height, which had been an impressive 6'1. On top of that, he was fairly slender—not very muscular at all—but he still appeared to be in good shape. Beyond that, he had light brown hair with a faint auburn tint that hung just above his shoulders, while his bangs were gently brushed to the side. His skin was pale with bright, jade green eyes and a huge smile seemingly plastered onto his face.

General appearance aside, he was wearing a thin tan jacket with fleece that lined the outside of the zipper along with the cuffs of the sleeves. It did seem a bit ill-suited for the weather considering how meager it looked, although he made sure to supplement it with a light brown scarf. One could scarcely make out the white tee shirt that was underneath, which he paired with dark blue jeans and black sneakers. Marcus also noticed that he was standing rather strangely, with his back somewhat hunched as he held his two fists in the air. But given the context, he got the impression that the pose was a result of the man's apparent excitement.

With his brief observations concluded, he at last responded. "I… Uh, yes, that's me, James Marcus. And…you are?" He asked, wearing an expression of both confusion and concern over what he was about to get himself into.

The man broke away from his smile, instead growing visibly surprised by the reply. Not even a few seconds later, his expression again shifted into one that was now apologetic. "Oh gosh, pardon me! I was just so excited, I completely forgot to introduce myself…" He smacked himself in the head, frustrated with his lack of appropriate conduct. "Ahh, how could I make the Dr. Marcus introduce himself first? That's so…so disrespectful! I'm so sorry, Doctor. Really, really sorry!" He bowed several times, refusing to stop until Marcus grew uneasy and finally spoke again.

"No, please stop. It's fine, truly." He raised his hands, signaling that it was okay to cease the odd behavior. He very strongly hoped that was enough to put a stop to it, since it already was making him feel rather awkward. He actually couldn't recall a time where anyone ever bowed to him in a repentant manner. Had it simply been a new mannerism of kids these days? It was possible, but…he also supposed this kid just might have been a very…interesting individual, to put it mildly.

Figuring it was best if he moved the conversation along, he continued. "Why not just tell me your name, instead? I can assume you're a fan of my work, but a name would be nice."

The man quickly stood up straight, nodding as he returned to his goofy grin. "Yes, I'm a huge fan! I've seen all of your work in the papers and magazines, and I was even lucky enough 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 grew sheepish for a mere moment before suddenly smiling again. "My name's Brandon Bailey!" He exclaimed cheerfully.

Marcus smiled warmly and held out his hand with a nod. "Well then… It's nice to meet you, Bailey. I'm always happy to meet a follower of my work."

The man, Bailey, looked stunned by his offered hand, but quickly beamed as he shook it rather vigorously. "It's very nice to meet you too, Dr. Marcus!" Releasing his hand, he suddenly scratched at the back of his head in a nervous manner. "Oh, but I'm really sorry for being so…hyper. It's just that I'm such a big fan, and I'm also really surprised to see you here. I didn't know you lived in Raccoon City too."

He placed a hand on his chin and gave off a thoughtful expression. "Of course, I did hear rumors that you were originally from this city, and I know you gave some of your lectures at the universities here. But you're just so famous, I thought for sure you would have moved on to some huge mansion somewhere more…luxurious, I guess!"

"Me? With a huge, luxurious mansion?" Marcus shook his head with a chuckle and set down his bag of groceries, figuring this conversation was likely going to take a while. "Not at all. I've lived in this city my entire life, in fact."

It actually came as a surprise that Bailey knew that little tidbit of information. As much as Marcus needed to put himself out there for the sake of his career, he actually managed to keep his personal information rather private. Even something as significant as his hometown was never openly spoken of, so the only ones who were privy to that knowledge tended to be those that actually knew of him prior to his rise to fame. But perhaps there were bound to be people who speculated on things even beyond that, so he figured rumors were something he should have anticipated.

Still, he was stunned to learn he was so famous that he even needed to worry about something like that. But it wasn't as if it were a major deal for people to learn this information, he wasn't that much of a recluse. And yet, he did like keeping a low profile, so it was just a teeny bit disappointing to learn that it might have become public knowledge.

It might have been strange for him to be so discreet about these things, but he would have it no other way. It was surely a consequence of the introversion that never left him, seeing as the thought of people genuinely getting to know him was…tiresome. He simply hadn't wished for people to know of the man that was James Marcus. Rather, they were only meant to know of the scientist that was Dr. James Marcus, along with all that he contributed to the world. That was truly the ideal way in which he hoped to live out the remainder of his days…

Returning to the topic at hand, Marcus glanced at the scenery surrounding them with an air of contemplation. "Although I must admit, it certainly has changed quite a bit since my childhood." Observing the sight of numerous buildings stretching as far as the eye could see, he gave a light shake of his head and returned 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, as well. There weren't nearly as many buildings, and this particular area looked rather abandoned back then, actually…"

Looking toward the trees that lined the sidewalk, his eyes trailed off to the vibrant green of the lawns on either side of them. "At that time, it was even lacking in both plants and trees, strangely enough. At least in that sense, the scenery has grown more pleasant over the years." He suddenly realized he was talking too much, so an awkward smile made its way onto his face. "Ah, my apologies. I'm rambling now. My old age must be getting to me."

Bailey had been staring very attentively at the explanation, only to shake his head quickly at his apology. "Oh, not at all! I actually think it's interesting." He replied with a smile. "I only moved here about seven years ago when I was starting college, so I've always known it to look like this. I can't even imagine what it must have looked like before being developed, so it's nice to hear about it." Then with a playful pout, he narrowed his eyes. "Besides, Dr. Marcus. Aren't you only forty-five? You still have a lot of years left in you!"

The doctor chuckled with a nod. "I suppose that's true, but I certainly feel old. My back isn't exactly what it used to be, you know…"

Bailey crossed his arms and shook his head with an exaggerated disappointment. "Well you better take good care of yourself, Doctor. You still have a ton of amazing research to contribute to the world, you can't croak already! It would be such a tragedy! And I'd be really upset, too." He frowned with a genuine sadness clear in his eyes.

His sudden level of sincerity had been so surprising that it caught Marcus off-guard. There really was no denying that he was a huge fan, that much was clear as day. And while Marcus had met some admirers in the past—although not nearly as many as Bailey must have thought he had—none were as devoted as this kid. And certainly, he hadn't expected them to be, since he really didn't think scientists were ever the sort to be idolized in such a way. It was rather overwhelming to get this type of special treatment, but perhaps it was also somewhat nice. He was very flattered, to say the least.

With his smile growing somewhat sheepish, he shook his head in disbelief. "A tragedy? I don't believe I'd go that far, but I do appreciate you saying so." Chuckling once more, he continued. "You know, you're the first person I've met with such an extreme level of admiration for me. With that sort of enthusiasm, you may as well become my student!" He laughed at his own joke, not at all noticing the man's face instantly shift into an oddly intense expression at the mere mention of it.

After a few seconds of silence, Bailey's demeanor remained incredibly serious as he finally spoke the words he so desperately wanted to say. "Really? Do you really mean it? Seriously?!" He blurted out as his intense gaze suddenly transformed into one of boundless excitement. For a brief moment, Marcus swore he could see stars in his eyes…

"I, uh…" He stumbled, unsure of how he could even respond to that. He hadn't predicted this misunderstanding, making him wish he hadn't even bothered to make the joke. At times like these, he really did curse his relentless wit…

With an internal sigh, he questioned if there was any way to remedy this. He didn't want to hurt the man's feelings, as there was no doubt that he would be hit with a devastating sorrow if he was denied. But could it really be considered a denial if he had only been joking to begin with? He was such a devoted fan, though. Marcus didn't wish to upset him, but…he couldn't just agree to it, right? He hadn't been in need of a student…

Unless…perhaps I could have a protégé… It's true that I'm getting older, and I don't have children… If I, at the least, have someone to take over my work when I pass on, I can be assured that it would never be left unfinished and forgotten…

He gulped as his unease grew. Somehow, the idea was actually starting to make sense to him. But all of this was much too sudden! These decisions were not meant to be made lightly. Yet in spite of Marcus' inner turmoil, the young man had only continued to stare at him with an unwavering grin.

He sighed, externally this time. And with that out, he quickly reverted to his warm smile, since he didn't want to give the man the wrong idea. "Well…perhaps… But such a decision takes time. Surely you can't just drop everything in your life to become my student. You must still be in school, yes?"

Bailey immediately shook his head. "Nope. I just got my master's degree last year, with a major 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 first, since that would give me the experience I'd need to eventually become a full-fledged virologist." He grinned cheerfully, hoping very much that his idol would now have no qualms with taking him under his wing.

Marcus gulped again as a trickle of sweat ran down his temple. Certainly, he really 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 only would have said something like, "You're a fan? Great. Are we done here?" This thought did make him reflect on how impolite he had been back then. That would have been a pretty awful thing to say, so he was actually relieved that he became nicer over the years. Still, it did make situations like this much more difficult than they needed to be…

"Erm…well…" He trailed off, still unsure of what else to say. But just as he was about to speak up once more, 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 I'll understand…" His smile remained, although his eyes did show a faint trace of sadness. Then, with a tilt of his head, an idea seemed to occur to him. "Although, now that I think about it… You were probably joking to begin with, weren't you? That makes way more sense… Urgh, I'm so stupid…" He looked down and proceeded to cover his face with his hand in humiliation.

With such a terribly depressing demeanor; 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." With a nervous chuckle, he then waved his hand apathetically. "Although I must be honest, it was indeed a joke. However, I'll admit that it did make me think…" He smiled, noticing the dejected man suddenly look up with a newfound interest stirring within him. "There's still much that I intend to do. So much research, so many experiments. And yet, even I am unable to evade the passage of time. 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."

As the explanation progressed, Bailey's expression had gradually grown more and more excited with each passing second. By the time he was 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, too excited to even feel bad for cutting off the older man.

With his expression becoming awkward, he nodded. "Yes, I expected as much…"

Bailey, in his excitement, started pacing back and forth in circles as he prepared to go on another tangent. "Oh I'm so excited! This is 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!" He threw his arms in the air to further demonstrate his obvious delight. "I'm so happy, I don't even care about food! I might never eat again!"

At this, Marcus laughed and shook his head before picking up his own grocery bag. "I wouldn't recommend it. That's how you end up having nothing to eat but water."

The young man looked at him puzzledly for a moment, but dismissed the thought as quickly as it entered his head and immediately returned to his rambling.

"Still, this is great! What are we gonna research first, Dr. Marcus? Your latest work concerned the alterations of the internal structure and conceivable physical capabilities of leeches in recent years. Are we gonna work on that?" With a nod, he wagged his finger in an affirming manner. "That's a really interesting field of study, too, if I must say! Not many scientists would choose to focus on that, but you were the one to see the potential and go for it! I thought you had outdone yourself on your discovery of a cure for that new virus going around, but you never cease to amaze!"

Marcus raised his hand dismissively, clearly embarrassed from the hefty heaping of praise. "Please, that's quite enough. Besides, we've only just met. There's no need to jump into research right away." It was an astonishing statement from one as devoted to work as he was, but given the energy of his newfound companion, it was probably for the best if they both took a moment to relax.

"Here, why don't you join me for dinner later? I'm having…" He trailed off as he glanced into his bag for ideas. "…Cans of chicken noodle soup." It obviously wasn't the most magnificent meal, but it served its purpose well enough, he figured.

Bailey stopped his rant to think about the offer. With a quick nod, he replied, "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 sighed. It seemed 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, it's vital that you keep yourself in good shape. You certainly don't want to end up like me, buying groceries after days of starving yourself." Marcus began lecturing him as though he were his parent, perhaps having acquired the habit from all the years of giving students literal lectures.

Bailey crossed his arms with a nod. "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. "It's not exactly something to be proud of…"

Ignoring that remark, Bailey continued praising Marcus the entire way over to his house. Even once they had settled in and were eating their soup, he would blurt out 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. It was true that he had been starting to feel somewhat lonely, anyway, so it was nice to have a friend again. It made things less mundane, for sure.

Given his eagerness, it hadn't come as a surprise, but Bailey quickly had proven himself to be a great student. He was always enthusiastic and happy to help, as well as being exceptionally intelligent. The two ended up spending most of their time together afterward, with Bailey even actively aiding in some of Marcus' later discoveries. And eventually, Marcus was able to convince him to eat and rest more properly. In turn, Bailey started nagging him to do the same, so they aided each other in being a little healthier.

Their meeting had been unexpected, and their partnership was even more so. But in the end, Marcus could confidently say that he was glad for it. And in time, Bailey truly 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 an invitation from Spencer—leading them on a sudden and dangerous quest…