Marco Re-Learns the Future: The Beginning

Marco Re-Learns the Future: The Beginning (Isle of Perdition)
(OOC: This thread is happening the same time as Isle of Perdition, Neo's Stay on the Isle of Perdition: Week One, so some of what is happening will be copied in both threads just from different points of view.)
(Combined threads from the previous site)

MARCO SPELLMAN
Marco shook his head as he said, "I have not been in uniform in five years. Not since one of our own killed most of my unit and left me for dead. I just can't..."

Neo opened his eyes and cringed at what he saw and heard. His brother was being taken by force. Neo said, "Unhand my brother! Unless your two goons want to see how good I am."

Marco heard Neo and was shocked by his brother's reaction. He started fighting his guards thinking, "Maybe this is what will keep my cover? If Neo believes that, I am pretty much in the same boat as him and Frankie. He might stop digging for the truth. It is time to see if I can still fool my brother." He looked back at Fixer as he was being lead away saying, "But I have done what you asked? Please I need to get back to Hogwarts. Please not re-education..."

Cole stood up and said to the men pulling Marco out of the room, "Hold on." He walked over to the three men and got very much into Marco's space. "I will do what I need to do. You seem to have forgotten who is in charge of this operation." Turning to the men he said, "If you have to tie him do it… I also want him in Trainee fatigues before I get there. I will send Punta, to help with anything. Oh, and gentlemen," Cole looked at Marco and smiled before turning back, "I do not care what you have to do to get him there." Cole had almost assured Marco of having several extra bruises before he made it to the Training Facility.

Marco paced around the small six foot by six foot room. The only furniture was a straight back metal chair sitting dead center. A single caged light hung from the ceiling. He had been forced to change into kaki cargo pants and a tan tee-shirt. The material was scratchy and the whole outfit was uncomfortable. There were no windows so Marco had no idea how long he had been there. He knew it had been shortly after noon when he had been brought here. He had been fed a sandwich and given a bottle of mineral water. If he had to take a guess he figured it was around two or three in the afternoon. He had tried to sit in the chair, in the corner on the floor and just leaning against the wall, but no position allowed him to relax. Marco was worried about his brothers, wondering if his stupidity had gotten them in deeper trouble.

Hearing footsteps outside the metal jail like door, Marco stood by the chair. He knew there was nowhere he could run, so he just stood and waited to see what would happen next. As the door opened the bright sunlight blinded Marco at first. All he saw was the frame of a man standing in the doorway. Tom's voice was not any comfort to relieving the knots in Marco's stomach."The Captain wants to see you now, Spellman. Get a move on it, Trainee."

Marco hesitated, but realizing any attempt at disobedience was only going to make things worse. Slowly he walked out of the room, trying to hold his back straight and his head up. When Tom waved him toward the front of the larger room he had entered, his eyes continued to focus and he saw Cole sitting at the seating area near the bank of windows with overlooked the training obstacle course. When they stopped in front of Cole's seat, Tom hit Marco roughly on the shoulder and said, "Stand at attention Trainee, when the Captain talks to you."

Marco glared at Tom and spat, "If Neo had not pulled that stunt last night, I might show you what hitting me would cost you..."

Two men, Marco had not noticed, grabbed his arms the same time Tom pulled back and gave a hard right to Marco's jaw and then with his left fist hit Marco in the stomach. Marco doubled over and would have gone face first into the floor if the men hadn't held him up. Tom walked up to him and with his face very close to Marco's said, "I said stand at attention when you are in the presence of the Captain, Trainee." Then the man stepped back and waited.

(OOC: This is a combined post by Barbie and Jane, we hope you enjoy it

FRANK COLE
Cole had not moved. He had his arms resting comfortably on the arms of the overstuffed chair. He had given Tom permission to use force, but not deadly force to get Marco in the right frame of mind. He was not going to interfere yet. Tom's whip, which the man always had fastened to his belt, was still fastened so Marco was reasonably safe at the moment.

Marco looked at Fixer and smiled as he said, "I remember a brother of his that would have laughed at my comment but no weakling here gets all upset at just the thought that I was able to kick his brother's rear..." Marco glanced at the whip as he finished, "whip or no whip! I thought Commander; your boys had learned to handle a little needling? Guess not and he calls me a trainee..." He smiled because at least he was back in his element but with Neo failed rescue attempt, Marco knew that he was about to be even tighter bound to the mission. Marco's heart ached as he wondered if he was going to lose himself in the role as Antonio lost himself.

When Tom balled his fist and was about to go at Marco again, Cole waved him off. The look on Tom's face said he was having trouble holding himself in check but he stepped back and kept his eyes on Marco. Cole also waved the two holding Marco, back a couple of steps. "Marco, Franco left about two hours ago. I have already had confirmation he has followed orders and contacted Tal'mac. The Grand Tocofer will let me know if I need to pull in back here. Neo is in his room, wondering what I have planned for him. He can wait a bit though because he and I have the next four months to bond," Cole chuckled as he continued. "As far as you are concerned, what we are going to do is take you down a couple of steps and then bring you back up. I have assigned five members of my troop to help you maintain a steady pace for the next 24 hours." Cole had planned on keeping Marco moving for the twenty four hours and then let him earn the rest. During that time he would be quizzing him on what his responsibilities were and who would be hurt if he did not carry through with what he had been promised. "For the next 24 hours you will be given energy bars and mineral water. After that time, depending on your progress you can earn other foods and privileges, like rest and a shower. Any questions, Trainee Spellman?"

Marco shook his head but his thoughts showed the truth, "You expect me to work with these wimps! I am a Lone Wolf Commander and have been since one of our own helped wipe-out those I swore that promise to. The day I was forced to watch as The PACT was destroyed. I will find the traitor and keep my promise I made but never again am I going to trust especially weaklings that can't even hold their tempers..." His heart sank as he thought about his team and wondered why he had not been able to watch their back or at the very least died with them. There was no way Cole was going to make him be part of a team again. Marco thought, "Being a part of a team only gets you killed!" Marco was tired of watching people he grew to care about get killed.
"Marco," Cole started as he stood up. "may I remind you that Neo still has four months of training to do at my hands. Do you really want to put me in the position, again of not using him to demonstrate what I want you to do. Your refusal then as now, got many of your team mates into situations they barely made it out of." Cole rubbed his chin. "I think we will set this up as and all for one and one for all situation." Cole walked around Marco several times smiling. "If you refuse to do something asked of you. One of you team mates will suffer." Cole looked at Tom and said, "Make sure both of the Jennings's get put on this team." Turning back to Marco, he raised his eyebrows.

Marco inwardly cringed as he outwardly exploded, "Don't you dare make me responsible for her, Commander! We had a deal when I was released from that hospital. I became a Lone Wolf and you got first dibs on any info I got wind of...I am not becoming a team again. When my unit was killed, I..." Marco's mind snapped back to that night as he once again relived the nightmare.

Tom was the first one to grab hold of Marco, but if the other two men had not been there, there would have been no restraining him. Tarka, who had stepped outside, ran through the main door and up to Marco. Holding out his hand Master Marco fell to the floor. He was still thrashing around, but his arms were now held at his side and his legs were held together by magical restraints. It took Tarka a moment to be able to get close enough to Master Marco to put two fingers beside his head, so the human would settle down. Tarka closed his eyes and cringed. After a few heart beats he put two fingers on the other side of Marco's head and the young Master went silent. Tarka stood up and shook his head.

Cole had known instantly what was happening. He also knew the only one able to calm Marco, was going to be the elf. He had not realized his friend had been suffering from such a full blown case of Survivors Syndrome. He waited until Marco was out, before he said, "Take him to the medical room at the barracks. He is to be tied down to the bed. No one but you, Jack and the elves are allowed to see him or talk with him. When he comes too, let me know. I have some Owl's to send and some calls to make."

Tom smiled as he nodded saying, "Is it what I am thinking? My brother used to say that the unit leader he had was a man that he was proud to cover his back. That the PACT was tight as they came and when my brother was official given that patch, he was honored. Marco acts like he rather be alone than have that back? Sir, don't he know that the men and women you call Specialists are going to be taking the place of our siblings? We are PACT and we all have a score to settle with that traitor!"

Cole raked his hands through his hair. He was not sure if anyone outside the Specialist group knew that a good two thirds of the group was brothers, sisters, and cousins of those who had been killed when a mission Marco was leading went FUBAR. Marco had been allowed to live, barely, in order to be able to tell the story of what happened to the others. It had taken him, almost a year to fully recover from his own injuries. Cole knew he had gone through psy-evals and had been cleared for duty. Either those screw-ups at the med units missed something, or Marco was able to fool them, because the man was still deep in the past. "Take him back to the medical unit, Tom, let me make some calls. I won't lose him again to this stuff."

Tom looked at the men with Marco and tagged a button saying, "Blade, meet me at med unit STAT...We have guard detail and bring Fist with you...Sgt. Spellman has SS...Captain is making calls..." As Tarka, floated the unconscious Marco out the door, Tom said to Fixer, "Are we to expect another guest? Should I send Hope to Tal'mac?"

"Not sure on that yet, Tom. Just get him back and secured. I will see you in about half an hour." Cole returned the easy salute from Tom and started the jog back to his office. He would cut across land so it would not take long. As he arrived he washed his face and hands, then got to work, looking for help.

A half hour later stood next to the hospital bed, where Marco was secured. His wrists were fastened to the side rails, his feet were held together, and a strap lead to the foot board. A center strap held his waist to the bed. Cole walked up and raised Marco's eyes to see if he could get any response. He was still waiting for responses to his requests. He had even sent one to Maxwell Sinclair. The man was a doctor and ex-military. Cole was not going to invite him to the island, because he did not want to put the man in that position. He would be willing to help, though.

Cole turned to Tarka and said, "Release all his bonds but stand ready to subdue." Cole did not want Marco waking and have a possible flashback to being restrained as he was during his captivity.

Marco slowly opened his eyes to the bright lights. He tried to move his head and arms but nothing wanted to co-operate. He glanced out of the corner of his eyes and saw Fixer standing beside the bed. Trying to think of why he was in what looked like a hospital room, and tied down. He let his eyes roam and could find no visual signs of restraints. Taking a couple of deep breaths Marco looked back at Cole, with questions, confusion and fear in his eyes.

Cole looked toward Tarka. There were no restraints holding Marco in place. Tarka confirmed everything had been release, and then placed two fingers on the side of Marco's temple. The elf closed his eyes for a couple of heartbeats then opened them. He shook his head slowly. Apparently none of the elves were holding Marco in place. It had to be hysteria paralysis of some kind.

Although Cole had seen this type of reaction before, he was a little out of his element here. Marco's body had basically shut down his motor skills, to keep him from being able to complete the training, Cole had in mind. Since it all fell into place when he had made it clear Marco's actions would be responsible for the health and safety of others again, Cole figured that was what had cause the paralysis. Marco's subconscious was basically refusing to let his body move.

"What is your name soldier and who am I," Cole wanted to see where in time Marco was.

Marco said still in a panic, "Sgt. Marco Spellman, sir! Where is my team sir? Were they found alive as well sir?" The panic that filled him as well as his own memories had already given him the answer. His unit was dead and he was to blame. Marco's head screamed as it replayed what he had been forced to witness. He had been their unit leader and he had watched them be slowly tortured to death. Marco was confusing himself. He had answered the Commanders question, instantly, but something was wrong with the answer. He had a bad headache.

Cole glanced at the men standing over by opposite wall. Jack, Tom and Brian, otherwise known as Fist, because of his specialty, were leaning up against the wall and listening. Although they looked relaxed, Cole knew they were not. Their stance was not relaxed and the thought waves, he was picking up coming off them held an element of confusion. They were using this as a learning experience though and paying close attention. Cole had always made it clear to his small army, that every experience was a learning experience and they were expected to take full advantage of the lessons. Turning his glance back to Marco he said, "Sergeant Marco, look at me. Where are you?"

Marco looked at his Commander as he answered, "I guess I am at Military Installation 502, sir? Am I in trouble sir? I know sir that the message said to meet the rest of you at Rondaview 220 and I swear sir, we got there at 0400 on the nose..." He screamed as he remembered what greeted them when they arrived. A single robed man that Marco was sure he recognized the voice had smiled as he had approached. All of a sudden Marco was bound, gagged and held firm as the man gave the all clear code phrase. Marco watched in horror as his unit came out of hiding only to be surround...

"Sergeant, eyes on me now!" Cole could feel Marco's drop into the past. "You will keep your eyes on me and you will concentrate on listening to what I say." Cole fell into the role of commander, very easily. "You are right. You are in a medical unit but not installation 502. This is a little island I happen to own. It is called, Isle of Perdition. You were bought here when you had a seizer of sorts. What I want you to do is raise both your arms, and move your fingers."

Marco felt even more confusion as he tried to comply with his orders. He had been so sure this was 502 but he was being told it was not. "And my men, sir?", Marco pleaded as he slowly raised his arms and wiggled his fingers.

"Very good, Marco. I will explain about your men in a moment." Cole looked down at Marco's legs and said, "Now Sergeant, I want you to wiggle you toes."

Marco started panicking. Why was nobody talking about his men. He said with pure terror in his voice, "I have been trying sir ever since I woke up...I can't feel them commander..." As the realization hit him, Marco screamed in terror, "Why can't I feel my legs? What did he do to me?" Marco knew his Commander would want a full debrief and report. He was going to be held responsible as he was their unit leader. He screamed as he faced his Commander, "Where are my men sir? Maybe..." He stopped as his mind accepted the truth that all ten men were dead and none of them had died quickly. His body started to shake as he wondered, "How am I going to explain to their families? Why didn't he kill me? Why instead force me to watch as..."

Tom, Jack and Brian all stood up straight. Jack even took a step forward. All three men had, had brothers on Marco's team. Captain, had been the Commanding Officer of the whole facility, where Marco had been stationed. Because of this, when Sergeant Marco's team had been aniliated, leaving only him barely alive so he could tell what happened, the Captain had gotten in touch with each of the families. When the siblings had found out the Captain had not re-signed up and had started his own, information gathering force, a member of each of the families had applied for a position and gotten it. They had all known each other from correspondence after the tragedy and also some because they lived in the same area. Jack and one other guy were the only ones who had other siblings in the Captain's army. Now it looked like they were actually going to find out what happened to their brothers.

Cole looked away from Marco and over his shoulder. He had seen all the men move. Jack Jennings was taking the lead position, a fact Cole filed away for future use. He did not want the men listening at the moment to what happened. Some of it may be classified and also Cole did not want any interruptions from questioning Marco. Standing up straight, he turned and looked at the men. "You three are dismissed." When Jack was about to protest, Cole added, "That is an order gentlemen." Cole hardened his eyes.

All three men looked to Marco and then back at Cole. Tom and Brian, looked to Jack, who shook his head, stood close to attention and said, "Yes, sir. May we talk when you are done here?"

Cole nodded and returned their salutes. When they had left he slowly turned back to Marco and said, "Eyes back on me, Sergeant."

Marco had watched as the three men appeared seemingly out of nowhere. One of them was Mike Jennings, but he couldn't be because Mike Jennings had died before his eyes. If he was Mike, then the other two were Ron and Sam, but they had also died, "didn't they" he asked himself. Slowly Marco turned his eyes back to the Commander. He could not get his brain to focus. If Mike, Ron and Sam were there, that meant they were not dead, even though he knew they were. That lead to the realization in Marco's brain, that maybe the Commander was not the Commander. The man in the dark hood, could be playing games with his mind to try and get him to give up information. He could not think of a way to make sure of any of his facts.

Cole leaned on the bed railing which was in the up position. He watched Marco. The man was giving information, which might have not been in the report five years ago, when Marco had woken after being rescued. Cole had to decide on whether to play along or shock Marco back to the present. For now he would just try and keep Marco talking. "Ok Sergeant, consider this a debriefing. Tell me what you remember last?"

Marco faced his tormentor as he remembered hearing of a couple of other times when cloaked men were involved. His mind raced as he remembered those times. The first time he, Neo, Leo, Frankie and Kat had only been ten. Neo had disappeared for a month while they had been in Egypt with their mother.

His frown turned into a smile as he remembered that it was the Commander that had rescued Neo. The Commander had been twelve at the time. Years later, Neo had fallen prey once again and that time Marco blamed himself. Frankie had needed heart surgery so Marco had pushed Neo into checking out an ad that Marco had seen. He only found out later just what kind of life that ad had forced Cooler into. Neo had left that life behind upon graduation but Marco knew that his brother was never the same.

Marco started getting a very bad feeling as he remembered that the Quints were linked and out of all of them, Neo felt the link the strongest. It did not matter what each of them were going through, Cooler would feel it and deal with it. Marco's mind screamed as Marco realized that meant big trouble if these guys who had him were part of the same group that had controlled his brother for years. They had sworn that Neo would return to them and that he would be begging when he did. Marco anger grew as he remembered that he had promised to never allow that to happen.

Marco had sworn to protect his men but he had also sworn a personal vow to never allow his brother to fall back into Khalid's hands. He wondered if all this was to just get Neo to come running. Shaking his head as he realized that with what these guys were doing, Neo's linking ability had just created a problem. His brother was feeling everything and that would indeed bring his brother running. He glared at this impostor as he realized the danger his brother was in. Marco started using his occomacy gift to break the link. Smiling as he slowly was starting not to feel his brother Neo. He said nothing as he continued to block his brother's link to him.

Cole felt Marco holding back. It was confusing trying to listen to his mind, but from what he was picking up Marco thought, he was still in the past. Marco had also put some sort of wall up in his mind. "Sergeant that was an order. Tell me about the last twelve hours before you woke up, here on my island."

Marco grinned as he said with venom in his voice, "If you wanted me to believe that I was actually with my Commander...instead of in this mind world you created..." His head hurt but he had almost believed that he had escaped or was freed. Marco grew angry as he finished, "Then maybe you should have thought about what I saw in relation to what you were having me believe Traitor! Cause if you are the Commander then why do I believe Private Mike Jennings was Murdered right in front of me..." He stopped as his mind was still trying to separate what was real from what was false implanted. He glared at the man before him as he fought to stand saying, "When he just left! So you are not getting nothing except rank and serial number." He planned on freeing his men and then once they got back to the Commander, Marco would report about this traitor and that meant getting a look at the man's true face instead of his Commander's face. Marco cringed as he wondered if this was the traitor's true face. He shook his head as he screamed, "No The Commander is No Traitor and This Traitor is going to pay dearly for even thinking he could get me to think that Commander had set us up!"

Marco was definitely still in the past. Cole closed his eyes and signaled Tarka to have Jack Jennings return to the room. Opening his eyes and looking at Marco he said, "Marco I have never lied to you, you know that, so hold on my friend, because this is going to get a little rough. Five years has passed since you were out on patrol. I am no longer in the army and neither are you." The door opened and Jack walked in. Cole signaled him over to stand by the bed. "Take a good look at this man, Trickster." Cole was hoping Marco would remember his code name from the PACT group. There was no way anyone but the members, who was limited, could know the namd. His name is Jack Jennings; he was Private Mickey's brother."

Marco looked at the men standing over him and asked simply, "Then tell me the name he received just one hour before we went on patrol?" Marco was one of two that knew Mike and Brian had just received their code names. Smiling as only Cole had been there with him when the last two of Marco's team had received their PACT patch and were given the names.

Jack stepped up closer to the bed. "My brother Mickey's name given to him, just before you all went on patrol was Blade. He taught me everything I know today about using any type of knife. He was proud to be on your team, Marco." Cole nodded.

Marco's eyes teared as the man that looked so much like his friend spoke. Marco's mind replayed how Mike had been killed. Turning his head as he wondered how he could face him knowing that it was his fault that Blade had been tortured. He had watched his men, one by one be killed and not quickly. They had all been killed slowly and very painfully. Marco cried as he said, "I should have protected them or at least died with them? Instead..."Marco was unsure if he could ever forget what he had been forced to endure at his tormentor's hands just so Neo would fall into a trap that Marco was so sure had been laying in wait for him back then.

Jack looked at the Captain, for permission to speak. When he received a nod, he turned back to Marco and said, "What makes you think you could have saved them? From the reports I have read, which the Captain has made available to all of us who were siblings of the men who died, you were found half-dead yourself. The only reason you were allowed to live was so you could tell others what they had done." Jack rubbed his face and then continued, "Marco if you had died and my brother had lived and was allowed to return, what would you tell him if he held the same blame?"

Cole had stepped back a foot, to give Jack and Marco more of a sense of connection. Jack had asked a very good question and Cole hoped it would be the beginning of Marco's healing.

Marco's mind spoke as he felt the shame of what he had done, "Jackie, they didn't what my men. They wanted..." Marco stopped as he tried to think of an easy way to explain. They had only wanted Marco to feel what he and his men had went through. They had asked nothing of any of them but just forced Marco to watch as each man was tortured both mind and body. He looked at Jack as he finished with a heavy heart, "I pleaded with them to tell me what they wanted. All the man did was laugh as he ordered another one tortured. I finally figured out what it had been for..."

Cole could hear every thought Marco was thinking. The man's emotions had sharpened his thoughts into a fine stream. Marco was convinced the reason the hooded man had done what he had done was to get to his brother Neo. He had rationalized the reasons as being two fold. The first was the fact that Neo had his own gift. He could read his siblings and also had connections to the elfin kingdom through Tal'mac, who was Grand Councilor of the council of the five Elfin Clans. The second, according to Marco's mind was the fact Neo had gotten away from the Dark Sect twice now, and broken all connection with them. The Dark Sect was not famous for letting anyone walk away …. at least not alive. Marco had put up a wall, so Neo could not connect with him. This gave Neo the opinion that his brother was trying to break away and possibly join the Dark Sect, an opinion that actually helped Marco, to possibly be able to eventually be asked to join the Dark Ones and get some much needed information. Cole turned to Jack and asked, "Jack do you or any of the other family members of the other men, here on my island, blame Marco for the death's of your family members?"

Jack shook his head no and said, "Captain we have all talked about the mission in great depth and no we do not." Jack turned back to Marco, "It was not your fault. Bad things happen and can not be prevented. My brother was proud to be part of your team and he would not have had it any other way. Marco you need to stop blaming yourself for what happened. You need to use anything you learned during that time to help get the Dark Wizards that murdered the men. Until you stop blaming yourself, you will never be able to really disect the time period to see if there is information which the Captain can use. Debriefing has to be done without emotional involvement or the small things will be overlooked."

Marco looked at Cole as he thought, "You, Commander know who I choose over my men. I could have allowed their plan to work but instead I told them what I had done to insure that the one they wanted would never again coming running because of me...It was only then that they targeted my unit. If I had let them to think hurting me would bring him..." Marco cried unable to finish

Cole turned to Jack and said, "Jack, I appreciate you coming and talking with Marco. Please let the others know what has happened here. He is going to need all the support the rest of you can give when we are finished with this debriefing. I will let you know when you can talk with him again. Return to your duties." Cole waved toward the door.

At first, Jack did not seem to realize he had been dismissed. After a moment he looked at Cole, straightened and sketched a salute, "Yes Sir." Before he walked away from the bed he looked at Marco and said, "Sir, you could not have helped any of the men. They were doomed before you even got off the base. We will talk, and you will see none of us blame you. I know for sure, our siblings would be irate with you, if they knew what you were doing to yourself." Jack gave Marco a sketched salute also and turned, crisply walking out the door.

Cole watched Jack walk out and before he turned back to Marco, he said, "That is a fine young man. He is going to go far." Cole turned back to Marco started, "The first thing we are going to do is get you out of this bed." Turning to Tarka, he motioned for the elf to come closer. Cole let down the side of the bed and swung Marco's still not moving legs over the side. Then he took Marco's arm, put it around his shoulders and stood him up. With Tarka's help he got him over to the table.

Marco let a smile come to his face as he said, "Mickey would have thrown a fit to see him here, Sir. He never wanted his siblings to see the darker side of the wizardry world. I can't help feeling that if I had not informed those that had us that I had insured they would not get Neo..." He could not shake the feeling of guilt at his men's deaths.

Cole took his normal seat, straddling his chair. "Marco, I know you are missing a lot of time, but it will come back. When we first found you five years ago in that ditch, you were barely alive. It took the medical unit, plus some specialist just to get you too the point where you were going to be able to start physically healing. You were tortured within an inch of your life. At the moment you do not remember the level six mind dive which was done. I have a transcript of that mind dive along with a complete file on your recovery from then until now. You are welcome to see it. One bit of information you might be interested in, though, is although you broke the link with your brother, very early in the interrogation process, but you did not, and I repeat, You did not tell them about the break until after all your men were dead. Also, what they made you believe about how the men died was all a mind fabrication. Your men, other than you, were put up against a wall and shot, by firing squad. I have inside information, they all died instantly. They were not tortured. They were battered yes, because they did not give in quietly or easily. You were kept for an additional two weeks… interrogated and made to believe everything which happened to you, had happened to them as you watched."

Marco sadly shook his head as he asked, "Were they after Neo like I believe? Sir, The man that seemed to be in charge, he knew the All Clear Phrase. He is one of us. He used the phrase to bring my men out of where they were waiting. Did I ever give a description of the Traitor?"

"It was the conclusion of the review committee that they were after any information they could get. Your team may have been targeted because of your relationship with your brothers, but I think it was more of a fact they were ready to go, and your team was the next one out in the field." Cole leaned forward on his folded arms on the table, "I am not totally discounting they wanted to see if they could not use the connection between you and the others, but I think it was second on their list."

Cole signaled from Tarka to bring them something to drink, then looked back at Marco. "I agree the man is either a near the top level member of PACT, or at a minimum one of the aides. As far as a description, you said he was about 6 foot tall, thin, had a full beard, talked in a deep voice and wore a full hooded robe the whole time he was anywhere around you. " Cole had agreeded with the authorities at the time, that the description was not enough, but there was also the hope eventually Marco would remember something else or he would run across the man, and something would click to be able to pin point him. When Tarka had bought the drinks, Cole said, "Drink up Marco. I'm afraid it is only mineral water, but that is all you are going to get for a couple of hours." Cole looked at his watch and added, "It is 1:40 at the moment. You will rest for another couple of hours, then one of the elves, probable Mecum will start therapy on your legs. Punta will also have a Level three mind dive session with you later."

Marco shook his head as he pleaded, "Sir, my mind took me back there for a reason. It is trying to tell us something. Maybe something I am now ready to know..." Trickster wanted another mind drive while his mind was helping instead of fighting. He just needed Fixer to approve it. Smiling as he said, "I think I can handle another mind dive sir. Who knows, I might be able to finally accept that I did not get them killed? I need this sir and so do you."

Cole rested his arms on the back of the chair and just watched Marco for a few very long moments. He closed his eyes for a moment and asked Punta, through thought if he would be willing to do a Level six mind dive on Marco. Cole normally did not like going that deep, but with five very talented elves on the island, he knew he could set up all of the safety protocols needed. When Punta sent back his thoughts of agreement, Cole opened his eyes and said, "I will agree to a level six mind dive, Trickster, but it will not be easy. They may have planted some traps along the way down. It will be slow, because each level will be checked for any problems before the elves will go to the next level. You will also be strapped into the bed, while it is happening in case some subconscious suggestions have been implanted. The elves will hold the block you have in place with Neo, so he will not know what is happening. I will not sedate you in anyway, so there could be physical as well as mental pain as we dive. Do you agree to all of this?"

Marco smiled as he said, "Cole, we both need this. Will you do it? Maybe you will see something that I would not have thought was a clue? Our elf friends can take us to each step but I want you to be the one doing the debrief interview. Sir, you are the best at finding out what needs known. I really need to figure out what really happened and why my mind took me back..." He also wondered what he had betrayed and most importantly how he had been found in that ditch.

Cole nodded. "We will do it later this afternoon, after you have gotten some rest… the elves have been able to give you a rubdown and worked with your leg muscles and you have eaten." When Marco seemed to want to argue Cole added, "This is the way it will have to be Marco. I will need to prepare if I am going to take the lead on this. I also have some other projects I need to get started and worked on." Cole needed to get Neo started on his four month placement into the troops. Cole stood up and said, "Get some rest Marco." Then he started for the door.

Marco slowly nodded as he had learned long ago never to argue with the Commander. He asked instead, "Can the men's siblings be there or at least have access to the information we learn? Sir, I am still unsure bring them into PACT is in their best interest?"

Marco cringed as Cole talked about other things he needed to do. He said in barely whisper, "Like making Neo believe he is being brainwashed? I still wish I could tell him the truth.." Marco hated that to protect his brothers, he had to lie and hurt them the way he did. He hated them believing the worse about him and Cole but if they did not then neither would the Dark One. He said with uncertainty, "Maybe we can tell Neo the truth? Sir, I..." He shook his head as he said, "Is breaking Neo down and making him think he is brainwashed really ..." Trickster was still having doubts if they were doing the right thing.

Cole stopped and turned to face Marco. "For now Marco we stay on the course set. We have worked hard to get the other side to think of you as being willing to possibly be a traitor, and Spellman that is the way it will stay. Neo will survive his time with me as Franco did. There are too many innocent lives involved for us to let the Dark One, or any of his crazed followers to know what we are setting up." Cole gave Marco a hard look. "I won't let anyone ruin what we have set up. Do I make myself clear, Sergeant Spellman?" Cole did not wait for an answer. He just turned on his heels and left the room.

This is a combined post by Barbie and Jane, we hope you enjoy it)

MARCO SPELLMAN
Tarka had brought Marco to Cole's office and now he sat and waited. He knew the Captain was planning on bringing Neo in and it made his stomach roll to think of how he was going to have to treat his brother and stay in character. He sat back in the chair and waited quietly. The Captain did not want to talk. The Captain just kept shuffling through the papers on his desk. The elf, Punta , stood behind the desk, off to Cole's right and about a step back. The elves hands were at his side, but his fingers were extended toward the floor. Marco inwardly cringed because he knew the elf was prepared to fight.

When Neo entered the office Marco kept his eyes forward. He watched as the Captain, motioned Neo to take the other seat in front of the desk. Without looking behind him, he felt Tarka take a spot behind him and knew Kimtu was now standing behind Neo. Marco silently watched as Cole put down the papers, stacked them neatly and placed them off to the side. The Captain looked at his brother and said, "You have 20 minutes Neo, starting now. I have brought your brother here, but it is up to him what he says to you." Cole motioned toward Marco and then sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of him, and watching.

Marco waited as he could see that something was bugging his brother. Neo shook his head as if he had forgot what had brought him to Fixer's office. When he heard his brother say, "Never mind Sir, my brother made his bed now he can lie in it. I would like permission to go back to my room?" Marco was taken aback by Neo's attitude. He looked at Fixer to see if his Captain had picked up on it as well. Trickster had not seen his brother like this since he was fifteen and that made Marco scared for his brother.

Marco only received a nod that he knew he had understood because of their past service together, but Neo would not have been able to notice. As the Captain leaned forward on his desk Marco concentrated on listening. "Marco tell your brother how you feel about what you are doing here. He doesn't believe you are not being pressured to play on my island and join me in a little outside fun." Marco, inwardly cringed, because he had just been given a non-verble warning that he needed to stay in character, making sure his brother believed he wanted to join the Dark Sect.

With deliberate movements, Marco rose out of his chair and took the two steps to Neo's chair. His mussels tightened and his stomach rolled as he grabbed his brother's hair and jerked his head back saying with venom, "I am in charge of our family not you! If I say we are going to talk then I order, you obey! You are being trained to be useful."

He turned to Kimtu and ordered, "Spread Eagle on the Wall, bare his back...My brother is going to learn his place or I might find that a certain brother is no longer useful!" After only a quick glance at Cole, Kimtu followed the orders immediately. It made Marco's heart pound to see his brothers look of total disbelief on his face. It had been a long time since Marco had tried to forcibly get his brother to believe he wanted to switch sides and apparently, it was not going to get any easier. By the time his brother could react, Kimtu had him shackled facing the wall, spread eagled. Marco had to turn his back on his brothers position. Neo's looks of disbelief over his shoulder, were going to break Marco's resolve if he watched. Instead, he turned to Fixer as he said, "What do you think Captain?"

Cole walked over to the wall where Neo hung. He pushed a hidden panel and a door slid open, showing a shallow cabinet behind it. In the cabinet was an assortment of whips, canes, and other equipment, which could cause great pain. Cole took a side long glance at Neo, who was watching him, and reached into the cabinet retrieving a three foot long bamboo cane. Closing the door he walked back to Marco and handed him the rod, whispering, "No more than a count of ten. Make it a show Marco. I will explain later." Cole walked back and sat in his chair, leaning back and lacing his fingers in front of him.

Marco inwardly cringed as he held the cane whispering back, "It better be a good one. I just hope you can handle the aftermath?" Aloud he asked, "A Cane? You know how I despise Muggle weapons."

Seeing the look that Cole gave him, Marco gave a sly grin as he once again grabbed Neo's hair. He had already picked his ten spots. He jerked the head back as he hit his first spot saying, "I will just have to take my hatred for this Muggle weapon on you brother. Believe me when I done you will be begging Fixer. Neo, you need to realize that your infraction has just cost Frankie."

Marco fought the tears as he administered the beating with the cane. He had to add enough force to make it hurt, but pulled the strokes so he did not break any bones or create permanent damage. Looking at Punta he nodded and delivered the tenth stroke. Punta made sure Neo fainted.

When Neo had passed out, Marco dropped the cane where he was standing and rushed to the wall. He was glad his brother had fainted because he was unable to hold back the tears at what he had done. Cole also moved forward quickly and helped Marco remove his brother from the wall. Gently laying him on the floor, Marco knelt beside his brother as Punta checked him out. "He will be all right Master Marco. We will administer an anesthetic." When Punta saw the look on Master Marco's face, he quickly added, "There will be no drugs involved, Master Marco."

Marco could only nod, because the lump in his throat would let no sound pass. Carefully he helped to pick up his brother and gently carry him back to his room. Laying him on the bed he watched as the elves administered mental pain relief. When his brother was resting comfortably, Marco walked back to Cole's office to have a talk with his Captain.

(OOC: This thread is happening the same time as Elsewhere, Neo's Stay on the Isle of Perdition: Week One, so some of what is happening will be copied in both threads just from different points of view. This thread is a joint thread between Barbie and Jane, We hope you enjoy it)

FRANK COLE
Marco had been gone about half an hour taking his brother to his room. Tarka, mentally notified Cole that they were on their way back to his office. Smiling, Cole layed the papers down he had been studying and waited for the door to open. He leaned back in his chair and laid his arms comfortably on the arms of the desk chair.

As the door opened he said, "You wanted to talk with me Sergeant." Cole used his Commander voice, because he wanted to cut Marco short on the unwise words which he knew were going to come out of the mans mouth. "Stand at attention, Sergeant and take three very deep breaths."

Marco snapped to attention out of habit. After taking two deep breaths, he said, "I have never went that far before, Sir. I could have killed my brother." Trickster was furious but was unsure if the fury was towards his Commander or himself. Marco looked worriedly towards the door as he said fearful that he might have went too far to hold his cover, "You said you would explain later why that had to be done. I need that explanation and for your sake Sir, It better be a very good one. I told you when you started training me that my family is more important than any mission...so why did I just choose my cover over Neo?"

"At ease Sergeant." Motioning toward the nearby chair Cole added, "Take a seat, Marco and we will talk." Cole motioned to Punta to bring cold drinks. He just watched Marco while he waited for the elf to retrieve Butterbeer for Marco and a glass of wine for him. Waiting until after he took a sip, he finally said, "I want you to think Marco how your brother was acting. When you were together before your brother spoke up and tried to protect you from me. Yes he was confused and could not understand, but there was pure caring under how he acted. When he was in the room earlier, all he wanted to do was cause a problem and then return to his room. There was no caring. When was the last time you saw your brother's body signals and words happen?"

Marco could not see the connection but answered anyways, "The first time I saw him acting like that was..." Marco stopped as his mind went back, "It was how I knew that the job he had taken was a lot more dangerous and dark then the simple courier job it advertised. We were just fifteen and it was the year of our OWLs. The year before it was all Neo talked about. How he was going to use some of his break time to get extra studying in. Several study sessions later, some of the others asked why Neo had not attended any of them. It was the first of many times he would lie to cover his drug addiction. I only found out because Frankie started turning more often and had went to find Neo. " Marco's fury rose as he remembered what he had seen. His brother begging a cloaked individual. He had confronted his brother and had seen a side of Neo that still made Marco sick.

Cole heard the thoughts go through Marco's mind. "When you saw that happen, you also were witness to something else. The cloak man had finally gotten your brother completely hooked on a drug which forced Neo to return to him. The man also had apparently heard that there were those who were trying to get your brother free from his control, so he added an incentive for Neo to keep returning. There are times Marco when your brother is not totally in control of his own mind."

Marco started to jump up. Cole was not sure if he was going to come after him for hands on force of getting more information, or run to his brother to help him somehow, but he needed to stop him. Cole stood up and leaned on his desk, "Sit Marco, I am not done yet."

Marco wanted to find the man that he had confronted that day. He reached for the handle...

"Marco, I said sit back in your chair. You cannot get off this island, so you cannot get the Cloaked man." Cole lowered his voice to a deadly tone. "Either sit back down on your own, or I will have you forcibly placed back in the chair. You have not heard the total problem yet."

Marco stopped dead in his tracks saying with fury and hurt in his voice, "I am the one that pushed Neo into taking that courier job! Neo only wanted to study. If I had not pushed..." Marco's eyes were tearing up as his mind went back to that day when Marco convinced Neo that Frankie needed Neo to go for a courier job that Marco had seen.

Cole came out from behind his desk and walked over to Marco. Without any warning he grabbed Marco's shirt collar and through him to the floor. Quickly he sat on top of him and wrapped, both of Marco's arms behind the man's back, in a steal grip. "I said, to stop. Now either settle down or I will put you on the wall where your brother was, and then we will talk. What. Is. It. Going. To. Be?" he ended in measured words.

Marco froze as he said as his fury left him, "I want that man to pay for what he did!" Trickster collapsed as he finished, "But you are right, Sir. I need to know everything before going after him." Marco would still go after the man he seen all those years ago. The man was going to pay dearly for what Neo had suffered. Trickster would just wait until he was off the island and then he would go hunting.

Cole slowly let go of Marco's arms and got up. As Marco turned over, Cole offered him his hand for an assist up and then pointed to the chair. "Sit," was all he said before returning to his own desk chair. Cole motioned for Punta to refill the glasses. As the elf moved toward the small refrigerator on a far wall he turned to Marco and said, "What you do after you get off this island and after we have talked will be up to you Marco, but you will listen first because you have a very hard part to play coming up. If I do not think you can do it, I will not let you near your brother again on his island. Listen hard, Marco. The cloaked man added what can only be described as an alter ego to your brother to bring him back to them if he was ever able to get loose from their grip. Now the alter ego is in charge and has been since you grabbed your brother's hair. There are triggers, which allow the Dark Key, as he is known, to take over. It would be like being at a level seven mind dive. Both ego's are there but the Dark Key, is the strongest at the moment. I need that ego to stay on top."

Marco listened and then glaring at Fixer, Trickster said confused and furious, "I am not allowing them to control him ever again! You know what it took to free him last time..." Marco was shocked that Cole would even suggest leaving what Fixer had called, The Dark Key, in control of his brother. He trusted his Commander with his life but, "This is not my life or sanity...It is Neo's! Can I really accept that he has good reasons for doing this?" Marco inwardly shook at what Fixer was asking him to do. His mind snapped back to his men that he could not save as he said in barely a whisper, "I won't lose Neo, especially not to them!"

Putting his glass down on the desk, Cole crossed his arms on the desk surface and leaned forward a little. "WE are not going to lose Neo to the entity. I have a plan. In order to break the control of the thing, I have to be able to read it and know how it thinks. In order to do that it has to be in control of Neo's body. This is not something you have a yea or nay about Trickster. It is going to happen like I want. Now what I need to know from you is can you play along and stay in character in front of the thing or are you going to try and damage your brother, because Marco the only way to physically fight the entity is to hurt your brother's body. Decide Marco… do you stay in the game or do I remove you to another part of the island and play this by myself?"

Marco said after a lot of thought, "That thing does not leave in control of my brother, agreed? And we add his maker to our list!" Trickster was unsure if he agreed with Fixer on leaving that thing in charge but he know that to destroy that Thing now would kill his brother. They needed more information on it. The only two things, Marco was sure of was that Thing was not leaving this island in control and Trickster planned serious payback on the man that created that Thing.

"Agreed," Cole said as he nodded. "Now I need you to go back to your room or you can stay here if you like. I am going to talk with your brother. I am not sure what is happening from here, Marco. If your brother, or should I say the Dark Key wants to talk to you, as Neo, do you think you can hold it together?"

Marco inwardly cringed but he was not about to fail his brother. Neo was deadly and with that Thing in control, Marco had to be able to deal with it as Neo would for him. Trickster tried to hide his anger as he said, "I will be happy to stay in character, Sir."

Cole nodded. "Good enough for me Trickster." Standing up and walking around to the front of the desk Cole asked, "Do you want to stay here and have your dinner, joint the men in the dining room or return to your room? I should be about an hour or so."

Marco shrugged as he said, "It matters little to me as I am still a Lone Wolf and you know why. I am not going to be responsible for anybody else." He still had nightmares about what he had let happen to his men. Marco did not care that he was cleared of any wrong doing. He was their unit leader and that made them his responsibility.

"Return to your room then, Marco. I will call you back when I am ready for the two of you to talk, if he offers." Cole watched as Marco left the room with Tarka. "Tarka get him dinner and whatever else he wants." When they were gone, Cole took a deep breath and headed for Neo's room.

(OOC: This thread is happening the same time as Elsewhere, Neo's Stay on the Isle of Perdition: Week One, so some of what is happening will be copied in both threads just from different points of view. This thread is a joint thread between Barbie and Jane, We hope you enjoy it)

MARCO SPELLMAN
Marco had eaten only a little. His mind was too full of what the Captain had said. He was going to have to act tough and probably damage is brother some more, but Cole was right they needed to make sure the Thing inside of Neo was convince that Marco thought it was Neo. He only hoped Neo's mind was somewhere, where it would not get hurt. Marco stood outside the Captains office door and waited for Tarka to open it. When he could he walked in.

The Captain was sitting on the front edge of his desk, arms crossed across his chest. He looked relaxed, but Marco had seen that stance many times before. The Captain was wound tight and ready to take care of any problems. Neo was sitting in one of the chairs also looking relaxed. Marco looked closer and if he had not known his brother's ways then he would not have picked up on the way Neo was sitting. There was a small difference. Inwardly Marco smiled, that was going to help in knowing who he was talking to. Walking up to stand in front of Cole, he stood at attention, waiting for orders.

"At ease, Marco. Take a seat. Your brother would like to talk with you and you will listen. Feel free though to let him know how you feel." Cole knew he had just opened the door for Marco to say or do anything because of what Neo said or did.

The real Neo still could not believe he was back chained in semi-dark room of his mind. He wished the link with Marco was still connected. He listened and then screamed in his head, "Marco, it is not me brother. Fixer is playing you. Please brother, stop them both..." The Cooler felt the darkness surround him. He realized as the Dark Key spoke to him that the Dark Key indeed to insure Cooler paid dearly for his words. Within seconds, Cooler was screaming in extreme agony. He was in so much pain that he barely heard what the Dark Key said to his brother. All he knew was the darkness surrounding him was insuring that he would suffer for leaving the Cloaked Man.

Cole stood up and walked over to stand in front of the Dark Key. In barely a whisper he said, "I told you I create the pain, not you. Keep it up and you will feel everything he is feeling plus some." Giving him a knowing stare, Cole returned to the same position on his desk.

The Dark Key straightened up in his chair, and glared at the Fixer. To himself he said, "I will show you someday what pain is." Aloud he turned toward Marco and said, "I did not enjoy the caining you gave me brother . And by the way who said you are still in charge?" The Dark Key snickered to himself because he was going to plan on trying to get Marco to do as much damage as he could to this body. When Neo was allowed back, he wanted it to be well abused. When he finally got out into the field operation training, he was definitely going to see how roughed up he could make the body.

Marco listened and then decked Neo as he said, "You really think you can challenge me Neo? I think not! Now, stand at attention weakling!" He looked at Fixer and smiled as he thought, "That Dark Key is wanting this body hurt. Can you see what is happening to Neo? and maybe Punta or one of the others can find a way to help him?" This Key was going to regret messing with Neo, Marco would insure that.

Cole barely nodded, but otherwise did not move. Mentally he told Punta to have Artkee secretly visit Neo, while Marco kept the Dark Key busy.

The Dark Key, rubbed his jaw, stood up and said, "I think since you want both of us on the same side brother, then we are going to have an equal say." With that the Dark Key swung on his brother and connected solidly with Marco's jaw, then took a fighting stance. "How bad do you really think you are?"

Marco gave a sly grin as he saw that this Dark Key was nowhere near his brother's level in skill. In two moves he had his brother's body in a vice grip as he said, "I think you deserve time on the wall weakling! Be Good and maybe I won't be paying Frankie a visit." He needed to find out what they knew about Frankie and if this Key's creator had any plans where his baby brother was concerned.

The Dark Key just chuckled. "You going to try and put me on the wall brother. I think not. Although I guess you could get the elves to do it, but that would not be big and mean like you keep trying to pretend you are." The Dark Key just stood with his hands on his hips waiting.

Marco chuckled as he grabbed Neo by the throat and pinned him to the wall using his body weight until he had him secured. As he went to stand by Fixer he said, "You are weak and you probably get that from Frankie. Maybe I should remove that infection from our sight...put the weakling out of his misery."

The Dark Key tried the straps holding his arms. He found out his legs were also fastened to the wall. Looking at Marco he said with a growl in his voice, "Our brother can fend for himself. He has the newspaper to keep him busy, and Cole already has a firm hold on his life. You can control him if you want too. I am going to take the training from the Fixer and I am going to become better than you ever were, brother." Trying the chains again he added, "Now let me down and you can get on with your training and I can get on with mine."

Marco just smiled and then looked at Fixer as he said with a sly grin, "I am only keeping that weakling alive because Commander is willing to use his position to further our cause. But we can always find another way. I could make him just a memory, can't I Fixer?"

"Of course we can, Marco." Cole walked over to where Neo was hanging on the wall and said quietly to the man. "I do need to start your training, Neo. It is already after dinner time, and I get very grumpy when I am hungry." Cole reached out and not so gently hit Neo in the ribs. "If you think just maybe you could follow orders, I will have Marco take you down from where you find yourself." Cole pulled back on Neo's hair and turned his head toward him. "What's it going to be, Cooler?"

The Dark Key whispered to Fixer, "What would Marco think of his best friend if I was to let it slip what "you" allowed to happen to his brother's true self? Get me down from here and punish Marco or see just where Marco true loyalty lies? " He was unsure if threaten Frank Cole with exposure was the best solution.

Cole smiled. "You really want to play that game, Neo?" he asked in a whisper. Cole closed his eyes and turned on his mind link, saying to Neo, "I am in total control here, Dark Key. If you don't believe me then try this on for size." Still using his mind only, Cole welded an imaginary whip and struck Neo's on his back in his mind, three times. The body flinched and tried to get away from the wall. "So you will start calling me Sir and aloud you will beg me to get you down, or I will give you some more. And Dark Key, my mind is very creative." Cole pulled the man's head back further and stared into his eyes.

The Dark Key smiled as he whispered, "Did you forget, what I feel so does Neo? How long do you think he can hold out especially with that present I left in there with him? You saw how the boy was when you found him. My master's gifts are unique, don't you think?"
,
Marco watched and saw Neo flinch three times as if something had hit him. The noticed the Captain's eyes were closed, so he dare not speak and break Cole's concentration. He had learned along time ago when the Captain seemed to go into himself, you did not talk, you barely moved.

The gift had been dark energy, or dark chi, which when present where Neo was, would make him feel both physical and mental pain. The elves would be able to block the mental pain, without the Dark Key knowing but they would not be able to block the physical pain. The Dark Key was still bodily connected to Neo's psyche. Artkee, the elf that had been sent was good, so the mental pain would not be felt. To the part that was truly Neo, the pain would feel uncomfortable but not bad. To the part that was the Dark Key, the physical and mental pain would be all too real. Cole was going to have to play this carefully. Closing his eyes again, he said in his mind, "I have a job to do, Dark Key. What makes you think a little pain to any of my men would phase me. The job comes first my men come second. Now do I hear a yes sir and any begging coming from you, or do I use my active imagination again?" Cole's men always came first, but he could not give into the Thing.

The Dark Key had pushed as much as he dared. He was craving the medicine again and had been hiding the craving. The pain was becoming unbearable and so with tears in his eyes he pleaded, "Sir, please I meant no disrespect. It is the cravings sir, they make me act rash, sir?"

Cole let go of Neo's hair and stepped back two steps. "Since you still have at least 45 hours before you are scheduled for more medicine I think you should work hard on lessening any pain to your body, don't you, Cooler. Now I do believe you have explained in some respect your disrespectful attitude, but I do not believe I have heard any request to be able to be released. Would you like to try again, Cooler?"

The Dark Key cringed as he pleaded, "Yes, sir. Please the pain is unbearable. I need another shot...I will do as you want...please..."

Marco was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard the pleading. This was the exact way his brother was speaking the day, Marco had learned what he had talked Neo into. "This Key must have been made after I confronted Neo and that Cloaked man? Why did the Cloaked Man see me as a threat to his hold over my brother? Captain? Is this a clue?" Marco wondered if the Cloaked Man he had confronted at fifteen was somehow linked to the traitor that had betrayed the PACT five years ago.

Cole sent a mental message back to Marco, saying, "Yes the timing is what makes it a clue. The wording came from after Cloak Man thought you were going to be able to get your brother out of his clutches. Now settle down and pay attention. You are about to have a little more control over this thing, if I can play this right." . Turning his attention back to Neo he said aloud, "I will let you down, but you will have more respect for me and my people, including your brother, or we will go at this again. I do not make idol threats, Neo, as you well know." Cole motioned for Tarka to undo the straps on Neo's legs and arms. When the man was loose, and had just turned with his head down, waiting for orders, Cole nodded. "Go and sit in that chair Neo. Your brother will now decide if you are going to do anything else to night, even if you are going to be able to eat and where you are to sleep." The Dark Key walked Neo's body to the chair and sat down, sitting very straight, tall and stiff. Cole looked at Marco, grinned and pointed toward Neo, as he took his seat behind his desk.

Marco gave a sly grin as he went over to where Neo sat. Inwardly he wondered if they had just been played. Outwardly he said, "You have not earned another shot. Maybe after your training session tomorrow with your new team...at the moment I think your dinner will be whatever your team ate. As for your room, I doubt trainees get a hospital bed to sleep on."

He turned to Fixer, "Captain, I believe he has earned no special treatment though we can still have him confined to solitary confinement."

Nodding Cole said to Neo, "Attention, trainee." When Neo slowly stood at attention looking back and forth between himself and Marco, Cole continued. "You will be taken to the training grounds where there is a nice, if not comfortable, room where you will be guarded. You may sometime in the future earn the privilege of sleeping with your team. Your meal will be brought to you there. Since you are not on guard duty tonight, lights out will be at 9:00 pm, which is…" Cole looked at his watch, "… about an hour and a half from now. Wakeup call is at 6:00 am and at that time you will eat with your team, who are stationed in tents not far from the training grounds. When you have finished with your day tomorrow, your brother will decide whatever comforts, including your medicine you might receive. Now you are dismissed." Cole waved toward the door. Tarka stepped forward to follow Neo out the door.

Marco said nothing more until after the Dark Key left. His legs felt as if they had lost the will to stand. Had he just insured his brother's death by what he had done concerning the Dark Key. He wondered if he might get better results from kindness then fear but he hated what that Key's maker had done to his brother. "I am torn, Captain.; As in a way I can't help but feel for him." Marco said as soon as he knew it was safe to speak.

Neo had been led away, with his head held high. Cole felt fear, and anticipation radiating from the man. "Saunders, his team leader will keep him alive, that I am not worried about. She was also the one tested by Neo and was allowed to get her black belt. It will be interesting to see how she treats him, with the change the Dark Key cannot hide in his personality. She is smart though and there will still always be an elf on duty wherever he is training." Cole folded his arms on the top of his desk and sat forward. "Marco, the Thing inside of Neo, is not something which can be changed to good. When the evil is gone, it will be gone also. It will be absorbed back into Neo. Look at it as an amplification of all the hurt, anger and mistrust Neo has carried. When it is diminished enough to be what would be considered normal anguisity, it will be reabsorbed. Do not start trusting it, because it will use whatever it can to try and get around you, including your wanting to protect your brother."

Cole sat back up straight and reached for his wine glass. "Are you going to stay in your room tonight, or sleep in the barracks? You are on your own while you are on the island Marco. I have you down as a specialist, so you have no curfew. First breakfast is at 6:00 am, but the kitchen is open all day, because of special assignments some of my people are on. There are still certain areas you do not have clearance for." Cole waved his had at the man's questioning look. "It is not because of lack of trust, but there are areas on the island which are dangerous to go near, without special training. When I can arrange the training I will be happy to open those areas up to you."

Marco was shocked as he replied, "I thought I was back to being a trainee, Captain? Also we still have the mind dive to do. I, now more than ever need to know exactly what happened those two weeks and just how I ended up in that ditch. Sir, don't worry I am just wondering if showing it kindness might help our cause more. Neo broke free of that addiction, if we can help the Dark Key break free of it as well?"

Cole chuckled. "I was wondering if you would take the special privileges offered, Trickster. It would be good to have you start as a trainee, because the men and women would get to know you better, and think better of you, if you have had to put with the same problems they have put up with. So decide where you want to sleep tonight. Wakeup call will be 6:00 am for you. Report to Jack Jenkins in the morning for your assignment." Cole noticed the look of apprehension on Marco's face, so he added, "You will not be on the same training team as your brother. I want him to feel he is on his own. You will get a report though and decide if his day has gone well or what needs to be done. As I said, do not trust your brother, at least for the time being. The Dark Key is going to use anything it can to trick you into dropping your guard."

Marco nodded and then asked, "Captain, what about the mind dive? I need this Captain, especially since you seem determined to have me with a team again. I have to first know that I am worthy of once again having a team. If the mind dive shows me that I did everything I could to be the unit leader you trained me to be, then I want those that had family in my old unit to become my new unit. But first, Sir...I need to know the truth about that time and so do you..."

Cole rose from behind his desk and walked around to the front of it to sit. Relaxing he said, "Jack Jenkins is a brother of one of the men who was on your old unit. He will be in charge of you until you become a regular. He will not be your training sergeant, but he will be in charge of keeping track on how you are doing. You will have no say so in what happens while you are a trainee… you will have no decisions to make other than to pay attention and follow order immediately. I do not take the training of my people lightly. I think you will find some of it challenging. I will plan the mind dive in for one week from today, after you have had time to settle in. If for some reason you need to leave the island before you finish the Trainee part, tell Jack or make an appointment to see me or get with one of the elves. Any other questions, Trainee Spellman?"

Marco smiled as he said, "Then I will sleep where you had me, Commander. Oh, and I hope you have an excuse that keeps me from Hogwarts. Cause after what you told me what they might have made me believe, I don't even trust that I am the safest person to guard Marcus' sister. Captain, if they made me believe that about my men then what else did they put in my head? Tia is too important to my family for her safety to be trusted to somebody that could be her worse enemy."

Cole stood up. "Your excuse is already taken care of with Hogwarts. You are on a research leave of absence. Seems you have discovered an interesting item at a new dig site and have to supervise it's removal." Cole chuckled, as he continued, "Tia is being looked after Marco. Feel free to use the library or any of the other areas in the barracks. I think there is an impromptu boxing match or something to that effect in the basement gym. Trainees are invited and actually encouraged to attend. You can choose. The kitchen is opened all hours for snacks. You will not be locked in your room and the elves will not be with you." Cole held out his hand. "Welcome aboard Trickster. Have fun." Cole shook Marco's hand and added, "You are dismissed Trainee Spellman."Stay cool, stay calm and move forward."

Marco shook the Captain's hand and said, "Yes Sir. Understood, Stay cool, stay calm and move forward." It was strange to hear the words the Captain had everyone live by when they were in the service together. "Sir could you keep one of the elves with me please. Until the mind-dive I do not trust myself. You can let it be known with the men also that there may be some misgivings about my allegiances. That way I might be able to find out some information. The one's who need to know I can be trusted will find out soon enough, by my actions." Receiving a nod, Marco went to attention and smartly saluted, then turned on his heels. He would check out the session in the basement then head for his room. Six o'clock in the morning would come much too soon.

CLOSED

(OOC: This thread is happening the same time as Isle of Perdition, Neo's Stay on the Isle of Perdition: Week One, so some of what is happening will be copied in both threads just from different points of view. This thread is a joint thread between Barbie and Jane, We hope you enjoy it)