Post-Mission Eleven: A Mark Divided

Mikodimus

Well-Known Member
Draken Club and Bar// Capital Memorial City - downtown// evening....

Mark sat at a corner booth, his usual attire of boots, black jeans, a deep blue button up dress shirt worn open, but with a black muscle shirt instead of the usual white tank top. While nursing his glass of some foreign brand of bourbon, he fidgeted with the bandages he had wrapped the entirety of his right arm with, from shoulder to his hand minus the fingers. Mark wasn't expecting company tonight, even having stayed distant from those he usually spent time with.

The interior of the club was dark save for the glow of lights and runes spread around to offer a low light, dancers moving it on the floor to music he had never heard before, but was similar to the music of the clubs back home. The bar part of the establishment was packed tonight, the joking and merryment of drunk patrons a constant. The theme was of dark colors, deep shades of black, browns, reds, and even a few blues, giving the place a dark vibe. There was one entrance which had more patrons milling about, the majority of those here being locals, with some from nightstalker base and fort Miller mixed in.

Alastair made his way into the club. He had been given a hitn that he might find Mark here. After reading the report he wanted to check in with him to see that everything was alright. He was not hurt bad but figured it was a good enough reason to learn more about him. Alastair was wearing a tight fitting white shirt and a pair of blue jeans. His shoes were a tough pair of biker boots.

It did not take him long before he found Mark hanging out in a corner booth. He made his way over to him. "Fancy meeting you here, mind if I join?" He said with a cheerful tone to his voice.

Mark had been kind of spaced out just listening to the music, so when he heard the officer's voice so close he jumped slightly before hiding his arm under the table.

"Oh, Alastair sir, I didn't see you approach. Sure, I'm just uh enjoying a drink.", Mark said almost completely successful in not stammering. He gestured to the other open seats in the booth with his left hand.

Alastair quickly took a seat across from him. His arms propped up on the table as he looked at him. "You seem to be looking well."

"Well I guess I feel okay, could have been worse if my armor had failed. I guess it's good I designed it well huh." Mark said casually though with a slight hesitation as he remembered the events in the fog.

"Glad to see you have not lost your sense of telling jokes. Glad you lived to fight another day or whatever it is that you do." Alastair said with a smile. "So think you will be back to full strengh soon?"

"I'm walking am I not? As long as I can stand, I can perform the tasks the crew need of me. Not going to let something that hides in fog stop me. Would take something much bigger than that to keep me down." Mark said before taking a drink, a little voice laughing in his ear.

"Speaking of the fog, what even happen to you? Seems odd that you was taken out pretty quick yet there was nothing to prove a fight broke out." He asked with a slight tone in his voice.

Oh Shit!

"Hrm, not sure what you mean sir? I was attacked by something.", Mark said nervously itching his right arm slightly as he felt his Mark's heat up under the bandages.

"Exactly...something is a little odd. I mean I did see someone get eaten whole by a tar monster so not the oddest thing I have seen." He comment while rubbing his chin. "And you alright there, seem to be digging at your arm a little. Need some more medical attention?" He asked out of concern.

Mark didn't like where this was going, "clarify odd.", He said stopping his scratching to hide his arm and the bandage. He was sweating now, the little voice growing louder in his mind.

"It is just that attacked by something just seems off. Like if it was a beast I would have thought it would have showed up on scans at least." Alastair just sat there and pondered.

After a minute or so he looked as if he we looking past Mark. "Ahh, think nothing of it, just my officer side kicking in and trying to understand the situation. What is important is that your alive and well." A smile again was across his face. "So tell me a little about yourself."

Mark sighed internally, "well im sure you already know my name. Though I can't give much of a history other than my time I've been with the crew really. I've been doing training to be a samurai, I have an Android daughter named Chlorate, skilled with a gun and to a slightly lesser degree with a wrench, and I play the guitar. Hmm, I can't think of much else to add, was there anything specific you wanted to know."

"Just making small talk to get to know my crew and possible friends a little more." He said with a grin. "Make sure your still in one piece after your fight with a ghost." Alastairs eyes narrowed and he leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "Maybe it is some demons you had hidden away in the closet back to seek revenge." He held the serious look and tone for just a moment before bursting out laughing.

Mark's glass moved forward, but he caught it, "uh yeah, maybe." He said non chalantly hoping Alastair hadn't noticed.

"Well if it couldn't keep me dead longer than four minutes I should be fine. I might need another drink, its been a long week.", He said nervously looking to the exit just in case he needed to run.

Alastair noticed the glass which made him turn his head slightly and look at it. He then looked up at Mark. "Yeah, pretty amazing your doing so good for being dead for 4 minutes. The length of time tends to mess people up pretty good. Must have some super natural powers or something." He commented leaning back and away from Mark.

double shit

Mark gulped, "I guess sometimes there are powers beyond our understanding at work. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the religious type, but there are things in this world that......defy explanation. Here we are but prey for beings with dark intentions."

Alastair leaned forward putting his elbows on the table and resting his head in his hands. "Please, do tell more about these beings. Seems you may know a few things." His curious side was very peaked.

A faint giggle was heard following the request. Mark looked fearful before bolting for the door.

Alastair gave chase quickly as without a doubt knew something was up now. He reached trying to grab his shoulder. "Stop, why are you running. A demonic sounding giggle isn't that creepy." He yelled as he chased after as his brain was trying to process what just happen.

Mark was at a full Sprint now dashing out the front of the building and into the street nearly dodging a car to head into a alley. His boots thudded against cement and metal with the occasional splash of a puddle. The sun had almost set leaving the alleys mostly dark. He could hear Alastair's own running steps not far behind.

"Keep hiding, they'll still hate you in the end.", Orias whispered in Mark's ear, "and they'll all be mine in the end."

"No, I won't let you have them!", Mark yelled defiantly.

Alastair was keeping pace and could hear Mark talking to himself. "Just hold up for a minute! Who are you talking too!!" He yelled as he gave chase.

Mark could feel orias pushing, trying to take control.

"No, I don't want to hurt you.", He said back before turning a corner and up a few steps leading down a side alley. It was narrower and was darker, leaving a few hazards to be unseen. One of these was a junk pile with metal wire protruding from it. It caught the bandages on his arm, cutting him and removing most of the bandages from the elbow down.

The chase was on and Alastair was not going to lose out. His keen minkan eyes allowed him to dodge the hazards after Mark. He watched as his bandages and arm ripped into metal wire. He thought for a moment he seen something on his arm. "Mark! Let me help you!" He yelled out.

"No, she must be contained! If Orias gains control, people will die.", Mark yelled back before hitting a fork in the alley. Panicking he headed right before passing another even narrower side alley. Thinking quickly, he entered one of the sahdows, melting into the dark. And waited for for the minkan to pass, the shadows hiding him with unnatural efficiency.

Who the heck is Orias? He thought to himself as he listened to Mark yell out. He lost sight of him as they moved through the alley. After a few more turns Alastair was alone and had lost sight on Mark. "Fuck, dude is quick." He yelled out loud. "You can hide now but I will find you and be sure this Orias is subdued!" Alastair shouted out in a firm voice.

Mark left his spot of hiding to run down the narrower side alley he had past. Taking a tight turn around the corner, he hit a wall. It was a dead end, and no other way but back.

Alastair followed down the alley way for a few more turns then stopped and looked around. Well damn, lost him. He thought to himself as he came to a stop. He pulled out his communicator he always carries on his person and called in a report.

"Welp, guess I will back track and see if I happen to run into him." He said to no one as he looked up to the stars. Instead of walking he lifted himself off the ground and listened. Maybe he would get lucky and hear Mark talking with this Orias person.

Mark cursed his luck, but stopping to listen, it sounded as if he'd lost his pursuer.

"You're really starting to tick me off demon. This is my body, and I will not be an accessory to your plans. Try to harm the ones I care about and I off myself, worth a respawn if it dumps you.", Mark said as if to no one present with an anger that was uncharacteristic of him.

"Vexatious worm, I am rooted into your very soul. I just return with every rebirth of your pitiful life. And it will only allow me to root deeper. The only reason you still live is because I'm curious. Your body, it has undergone some interesting changes since I took you as my host.", Orias said again as if a whisper.

"I don't care! Get out of my head, soul, whatever! These changes aren't natural, the things I can do now, they aren't normal. You've turned me into a freak. You've made me a danger to the crew!", Mark barked back.

"Oh hush now, you've become better, stronger. With your past, and these powers, I dare say I have chosen well with my host. But will these changes continue? I plan to use you so that I may be real within this world, even mortal in corporeal appearance. Though that will take time, so your stuck with me in my raw form. So do not trifle with me, or I will change you into a nightmare born of Hell, and your crew will be the ones to suffer for it.", Orias whispered in a tone like that of someone talking to their inferior, but became menacing on the last sentence.

Alastair after a few minutes started to hear what sounded like Mark talking to himself again. He weaved through a few alley ways and before he knew it he was at a dead end facing Mark.

"There you are! So glad I found you again. It would seem there is something spooky out here out to get you." He said with a smile across his face. He did not move closer instead waiting to see how he would react.

Mark turned around quickly as Alastair spoke, "Stay away I don't want to hurt you, I'm not safe."

"Spooky? Spooky?! SPOOKY!? How dare you describe me with such childish words, you insignificant, puny little mortal! I will teach you a lesson for such idiocy!", ORIAS's disembodied voice exclaimed in anger.

Mark felt his arm heat up, ORIAS's anger boiling up inside, "Leave now! I can't it much longer."

"This is making me have flashbacks to this one movie I watched where someone got possessed." He commented as he watched Mark stuggle with himself. "So, Orias was it...nice to meet you. It would seem you have gotten yourself stuck in this person body." Alastair was trying not to laugh as this just seemed hard to believe.

Mark cried out in pain pain as his arm began to steam, and objects around him began to vibrate. The markings on his arm began to glow red, his eyes shut as he fought back.

"Insolence!", Orias roared as a drain pipe was ripped from a wall and thrown at Alastair

Alastair was waiting for an attack and he got it. Pulling a move out of the matrix he tossed himself backwards and dodged the pipe.

"Damn Orias, this how you greet everyone?!" He said with a big smile as he drew his side arm. "Can't we talk this out...maybe over a bottle of wine?" His words were flirty but his tone was dead serious.

"Are you really going to shoot your poor friend Mark?", Orias spoke again.

Mark cried out as he dropped to his knees, his arm igniting in blue flame. He shuddered for a moment before suddenly going still. As if in a trance he stood, no longer reacting to his burning arm. He popped his neck as he stood straight and relaxed. When Mark's eyes flicked open, his eyes were not his own, the schelera jet black and the irises now crimson and reptilian in shape. They locked themselves upon Alastair.

"For you see, I am now part of his very soul, and if you kill him I only return with his rebirth and in more control than before. Even now, he fights me.", Mark spoke but with words that were not his own

Without hesitation he pulled the trigger and put a round right next to his head. "Yup, put him 6 feet under if needed. If it means saving the rest of the crew, I will not miss my next shot." His eyes are glazed over as he looked towards Mark. There would be no doubt he was serious.

"I would prefer to understand your desire to merge with his soul. Maybe I can be of help to your mission." Behind the gun she would see him grin smile.

"You mortals do not listen very well. He dies I just come back with his ST revive. I need your friend here so I can have a physical existence in this world, other than that I haven't decided yet.", Orias speaking through Mark said cocking a hip and placing a hand on it casually.

"I heard you the first time about coming back. What you fail to understand is my kink level. You might just come back chained to the bed in my chamber. I would prefer though to do a formal introduction before hand." Alastair was completely serious when he said this.

"So tell me, would you say that your a good person. Leaving aside the fact you took control of an unwilling host which is pretty evil." He asked in a calm tone.

Orias stood silent for a moment after raising an eyebrow, "I'm a demon, we're inherently evil. And as much fun as that aounds, you'd be doing it to Mark here who is male. I haven't been in him long enough to change his body, he fights too much."

"I can be patient and wait." He said as his grin curled bigger. "Don't let the halo over my head fool you, its being held up by the demon horns." He took a wider stance as he spoke.

"Clearly Mark is not enjoying the fact he has been taken over by a powerful demon such as yourself. Is there a way to get you a new body without changing his? I mean I am curious to see your demon form but I am not sure Mark is ready to be endowed with womanly features."

Orias laughed, "my demon form as you say is not womanly, and I can do that now. As for host switching, I'm afraid is impossible at this point. He has already changed to an extent, in ways I did not even expect. You see I'm as said rooted in, deeply at this point, and only a divine act of God can remove me now. So, why not maybe help expedite the change. Convince him to cooperate. This bonding has given him new abilities, more power, and yet he could gain so much more. What say you?"

"Yeah, as much as I would like to do this I am not sure the capt would be good with an evil demon running around on the ship doing evil deeds." He said as he slowly dropped his gun. "That said I can tell you wish to exist which I can not fault you on. So will you spare the crew if allowed to be on our ship? He asked in a curious tone.

"Acceptable, but the host must be convinced.", She replied.

Mark shuddered again as his eyes reverted to normal, "Are you seriously accepting this?! Look at what she has done to me!", Mark exclaimed pointing his now extinguished arm, the skin not even burnt, let alone any sign it had been burning. There was a black pentagram on the back of his hand, archaic demonic designs and script covering from there up that was visible.

He flexed his hand and whisps of shadows formed around it to collect in his hand, another flex and it dissipated. "Those aren't the only things I can do now. This isn't natural, I never asked to become this!"

"Got some pretty neat powers there. And to be honest I don't like any of this but trying to sperate her from you isn't going to be simple. So an enemy of my enemy is my friend." He said trying to reason with him.

After a moment he reached behind himself and pulled out a collar. "Don't ask questions but put this on and if she tries anything I will handle the situation." He said with a smile as he got closer.

"Woah woah, okay for one. Why the hell do you even have that with you, and two enemy of who's enemy.......you realize she can still see you right.", Mark said with hands raised in front of him.

Orias laughed, "Your friend is almost sadistic as I am. Treating your crewmate like a dog are we? I tell you to convince him, and you pull out a very questionable collar. Does not inspire trust very well." Upon the end of her last word Alastair would feel a light tap on the top of his nose as if booped.

"Well, it is just something I learned to carry in case I need to control a situation." He said with a light laugh. "And your damn right I don't trust you, are a demon after all. It is nothing personal and who knows, you might enjoy the shock from the collar." He gave a wink as he finished talking and felt the boop on his nose.

"I want to say we should report this to the captain but then again I don't want to make a big deal of this either. Word getting out people are getting taken over by demons, god only knows the panic this would cause." Concern covering his words as he spoke.

"Then how about an agreement. As much as this has been entertaining, I agree it gets us no where. Mark, I suggest a pact. In return for being a willing host, I will use my power to protect your crew and give you access when needed to it. Is this agreeable for you two?", ORIAS's disembodied voice asked.

Mark growled in frustration, "I still don't like this, but if we can keep it quiet that way, then fine. What do you think Alastair?"

Alastair put his weapon away and rubbed his chin for a moment. "I have a hard time believing she will keep her word cause evil gunna evil but I believe we have an agreement." His voice was firm and strong. The collar was still in his other hand hand and shook it at Mark. "Offer still stands Orias if you want to give it a try." Alastair said with a wink and laugh.

"Then that leaves one thing left. He must accept the change, to embrace it.", Orias said.

"So about that, what all do you mean by change?" Alastair asked in a curious yet concerned tone.

"He must accept me in my rawest form, for it will be his form as well.", Orias spoke again with utter seriousness.

Mark didn't like the sound of that, "Oh fun, I get to turn into a demon." He said sarcastically. "Fine let's get this over with."

"This is going to get really interesting. Look at the bright side, I am sure you always wanted horns, wings and a tail right?" Alastair was on the one hand very curious to see this new form but on the other concerned it might not be what he had seen in the comic books.

Mark felt his heart stop and his arm reignite, dropping him to his knees as the flame now engulfed him in a brilliant blue fireball. He cried out as it blazed around him, a glowing pentagram now surrounding him at his feet. After being engulfed by it, only his dark silhouette was visible.

After a moment the silhouette began to grow, standing and becoming taller, the form within changing. It became more lanky in shape, more inhuman.

With the spreading of four great draconic wings, the fire dispersed. What stood before Alastair now was not the man mark as he knew him. What stood there now was something of another world entirely.

It stood 9 feet tall, it's body lanky yet muscled, it's skin covered in thick layers of chitin. It had a narrow waist that was lined by chitin in the shape of rib like potrusions. The feet and hands were claws like daggers. The head was slightly avian in shape, the front like a human like skull with a fanged set of saber like teeth. A pair of horns curved back and away from the head and back towards the front, framing eyes with black schelera and crimson reptilian shaped irises and pupils. As if further sign of it's inhuman nature, a longer bone segmented tail whipped to either side behind, like some long pointed spinal column.

"We are one. Witness our Union made flesh.", A voice that was both Mark's and ORIAS's spoke. It leaned down and forward, bringing it's face five inches from Alastair's, "You now witness hell encarnate."

"Oh your pretty, very nice performance." Alastair said with a grin. "You got my there, was not expecting this to be honest. Like damn this is some serious demon going on here." He commented as he leaned backwards slightly. "I am sure once this all sinks in as to what I just seen I will be completely terrified of what I have just agreed too." His grin has changed into a more flat expression.

"So, uhhh...yeah, do you happen to have a more human form? Like the nine foot tall with huge wings, four of them, and long tail gunna be kind of hard to hide. Though we have some angels on the ship with wings so that isn't super oddd to be honest." As he finished speaking it just dawned on him what this might mean. Demons and angels tend to not like each other and could spell trouble.

The creature shrunk and collapsed until mark stood there again

"Ooooowwww, that friggin hurt,. Let's keep that to a minimum.", Mark groaned.

A woman stepped out from behind him. She was 6'2, dark tan skin, Amber eyes, a large bosom, hourglass figure, and long brown hair. She wore a long ornate dress and heels. "I am ORIAS, and this is what I look like as one of you mortals. Granted this form is not solid, I can appear like this as needed." She said waving a hand through mark, it passing through him like a ghost in demonstration.

"I am shocked you came back to your normal form so be glad you did Mark." He said with a sigh of relief. "Demon form is impressive but this human form is for sure more my speed. Shame it is incorporeal but either way nice to meet you Orias. I hope this is the start of a wonderful friendship." He reached his hand out offering to shake hers even if he did know she couldn't take his hand.

"Oh give it time and it will be. In the mean time I can just change his to fit.", Orias said accepting the hand though it only phased through.

"Wait does that mean what I think......oh no you are not changing my gender! Neither are you joyriding in it unless I know what for.", Mark said pointing at her agitated.

As a gesture he acted as if his hand had been grabbed by Orias. "I dunno Mark, body like that and would most likely win some points with the captain." He said with a laugh. "Though I do call dibs on first date cause it is important to get to know my crew better. Who happens to be an all powerful demon queen, little icing on the cake if you will." Alastair could not help but enjoy the expression on Marks face.

"One I'm not trying to date the captain, two you realize you'd be dating me too right? And I'm already taken thank you, and I would rather not have to explain to Nerai why I spent the night with a dude as a woman.", Mark said his face a mask of shock and denial.

"Oh hush, as if you'd even know it had happened, and you can't stop me if I chose to. Your friend might be just an enjoyable night, and I haven't lain with someone in an eon. So let me play every once in awhile, or I may just make you embarass yourself.", Orias answered back with a smile and a wink towards Alastair.

"For the love of....I guess I just don't get a choice anymore do I?", Mark said exasperated waving his hands in the air in defeat.

"Yes you don't.", Orias giggled.

"Look at the bright side, you kind of have a harem, though Orias is the one wearing the pants in this relationship." Alastair in unison with Orias giggled. "I believe we have a perfect understanding here. Mark, thank you for your cooperation in this matter, not that you had much choice, as I believe we could learn much from Orias." Alastair said in a matter of fact tone of voice.

"Well, as much as I want to stand out in this alley way making small talk with our new demon overlord. Shall we walk back to the club and maybe have a drink. I feel a celebration is in order." Alastair said with a smile.
 
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