Standing beside Sean's body, Mark forced himself to pry his lips off Sean's. He knew it was wrong to kiss him like this, but he couldn't help it. He didn't know how to reach Sean. To let him know that he was alive and that he was safe. Adjusting the blanket over Sean's strapped down body, Mark sniffled quietly. Then he straightened up as the doctor told him cautiously. "Careful now. Sean could feel that and if he doesn't want you to do that..." Mark winced, stepping back from Sean as he mumbled out. "Sorry. I just... I'm worried about him." The doctor sipped coffee from a paper cup, informing him coolly. "I'll keep an eye on him. You should get some sleep. You're looking... ragged." Shaking his head, Mark told him stubbornly. "I can't. I have to get him out. You saw what happened in the van... Glade is..."

Dropping his face into his hand, Mark choked out. "I'll never get his screams out of my head..." The doctor moved closer, placing a hand on his shoulder when he whispered to him sweetly. "I know it's hard... but you're no good to him if your too tired to help him. Go. Sleep. I'll wake you if anything changes." Mark resisted. His eyes going back to Sean's sleeping form. For a moment, he listened to the air pump hissing as it fed Sean a steady supply of oxygen through the pipe under his nose. He listened to the soft beep of the heart monitor. The doctor patted his shoulder harder, telling him with gentle force. "Mark, go. He needs to rest as much as you do." Reluctantly Mark backed away and made his way upstairs to his cot.

He had no idea how tired he was until he laid down and immediately passed out. The flight and the drive had really drained him. When he awoke hours later, he sat up to see Malcolm pacing downstairs as he asked the doctor. "Are you sure there is no way to pull him out?" The doctor gestured to Sean's headset, informing him seriously. "It wouldn't be safe. His mind has been in this state for too long. If I remove him from it, his brain could go into a permeant coma. The brain is a powerful engine... you mess with its ability to perceive things and... there isn't much I can do. I can try and hack the headset... but if Glade has a firewall around the software than... it could go off and fry Sean's brain depending on what Glade did to it."

Malcolm puffed his cigarette anxiously, mumbling under his breath. "Don't do that, Elis. Just..." Elis nodded in understanding, telling him gently. "I can keep him stable, and I can try to keep his strength up to keep his body from failing... but Malcolm... None of this is going to stop the inevitable from coming if we can't get him out of the game." Malcolm exhaled smoke, asking curiously. "We're running against the clock... Winning the game can't be the only way..." Elis sighed, leaning back in his chair as he stated aloud. "Like I said. The only other way is to hack the software and manually shut down the headset. But I'm not skilled enough for that... We're talking about trying to out-hack a literally computer program of Glade! A child prodigy of tech like this. Even at my best... I'd be afraid to tamper with this thing and find out too late that I fucked it up."

From a seat by the TV, Felix asked Elis curiously. "What if we got you another headset like his? Something you could hack and play around with? Do you think if would help?" Elis thought it over, before answering logically. "Yes. It would give me an idea how the tech works in the headset and what to expect... but there is no way that Glade won't see me hacking in and realize why someone would be interested in disabling a headset. He could lock me out before I even figure out his system he's operating on." Walking up to the railing, Mark leaned on it as he called down to them. "Not if I distract Glade." Everyone turned their attention up to him. Shrugging, Mark answered calmly. "Glade knows I'm threat. He knows Jack and I have history... If anyone can get Jack out... it's me."

Casually walking down the steps, Mark added with lighter amusement. "I'll go in the game. I'll keep his attention on me. You figure out the headset." Elis huffed softly, warning Mark seriously. "Mark, if Glade is running the server... he could kill you in your own headset. You do realize that, don't you?" Smirking, Mark looked to Sean's body, answering confidently. "Ya. I know. But he hasn't... and I know why... I'm giving Jack hope. He takes me away... Jack won't be the same." Clapping his hands together, Mark then asked hopefully. "So! Anyone got a console?" Felix snickered, gesturing to the TV as he told him. "Ya. Take your pick. Malcolm's friends hooked us up. We just have to be careful about how much power we use at a time. The generator is powering this place, the electronics, and... keeping Sean alive." Nodding, Mark told Felix seriously. "Hook it up for me. Set a timer. I'll go in and cause a stir. Then when you finish. Send me a message and I'll log out."

Moving to the little kitchen setup, Mark got himself some coffee and a snack. When he felt Malcolm approaching him. Turning nervously, he gulped at just how tall Malcolm was. Pulling his cigarette from his mouth, Malcolm told him in a hushed voice. "I'm torn between kicking your arse now... or later. You know he's in this mess because of you. If he dies... I won't guarantee you'll survive it either." Grabbing his arm, Malcolm flicked hot ash into Mark's palm. Wincing from the brief pain, Mark got the hint. Enclosing his fingers around the hot ash, Mark told him confidently. "Let me get him out first. Then you can kick my ass." Malcolm smirked, then released his arm.

Finishing his coffee, Mark approached Sean's body. Placing a hand on his. The I.V. in his arm was feeding Sean nutrients to keep his body from shutting down but it wouldn't be enough soon. Sean's body could only survive off liquids for so long. Picking up Sean's hand, he kissed the back of it. Being careful not to mess up the I.V. cords, when he whispered to him. "See you soon, Jack." Laying his hand back down, Mark headed to Felix. Helping him strip down to put on the sensory suit and get him on the newest console setup. Mark inhaled slow and deep before initiating the uplink. It was time to go back and piss off Glade. Reentering the game, Mark grinned and reentered the race. He wouldn't hold back this time. He wanted to see if he could get Jack's attention and in turn... Glade's.

Riding out on big red to the starting line, Mark kissed his fingers and blew a kiss to the floating camera. Even if he didn't know if Sean was watching, he didn't care. It made him feel better to think that he was. The last thing he expected was for a green lizard the size of a horse with red wings attached to its front legs to move up beside him. It hissed angrily at his Pegasus, but his Pegasus simply pawed the ground with a mean snort. Mark barely noticed the rest of the wyvern because his eyes were on the rider. It was Jack! Sitting up straighter on the wyvern, Jack stoically called to him in a guarded voice. "Who are you blowing a kiss to?" Mark's jaw dropped and he glanced around nervously. This had to be a trick. Beside him though, Sean told him with a tiny smile. "You'd lose for me? But would you win this race if you had to race HIM to win me?"

Mark looked in the direction that Sean gestured too and exhaled all his breath. Further ahead of them a black Gryphon was making its way over to join the line. Glade sat probably a top his half black eagle and half black lion mount. His eyes glaring daggers into him. Turning his attention back to Sean he asked quickly as players rushed to sign out to avoid racing now. "How...? Why are you...?" Sean kept his eyes on him, when he answered seriously. "He's monitoring me, Mark. Did you think you could hook me back up to the internet and he wouldn't know what you did?" Grinning wickedly, Mark asked charmingly. "What did I do?" Sean smirked and Mark's heart skipped. He could see the tiny spark in Sean's eyes.

Looking away from him, Sean answered him quietly. "This is HIS game, Mark. He makes the rules and he's in competition with you. For reasons, I barely understand... If you think you can best him. You're wrong. He plans to show you that..." Mark tensed at the way Sean had said that. What was Glade planning to do? Glancing briefly in the direction of Glade and his aggressive Gryphon, Mark asked Sean seriously. "He's mad about that kiss, huh?" When Sean didn't answer, he turned to look at him to see that Sean's face was pale and he was staring at him with wide fragile eyes. Flashing him a smug grin, Mark told him with a light heartfelt chuckle. "Oh? He doesn't know about that...? But you must have felt it?" Sean quickly turned to look ahead. The way Sean gulped didn't go unnoticed by Mark.

Resulting in Mark smiling so genuinely as he said aloud. "You did. He saw your heartrate spike, didn't he? But he doesn't know what I did?" Huffing to himself, Mark uttered under his breath. "So, he's monitoring you... but he thinks you're just excited that I stole you from him?" Sean cleared his throat, muttering out nervously. "Focus." Leaning closer to him, Mark told him sweetly. "I knew you still loved me." Meeting his eyes with his teary ones, Sean answered a bit pained. "I never stopped. That's the problem..." Mark made big red shift closer to Sean, before he told him gentle and truthful. "You know I'm thick... It's hard for me to open myself up as you do. Jack... I WILL fight for you this time." Sean opened his mouth, then stopped himself as his eyes drifted to someone riding up between them.

Wedging himself between them, Glade darkly told Mark. "Seems we've scared the competition away. I guess I've beaten too many players. They already know... I don't lose. If you know what is good for you. You will sign out now. Take your loss like a man." Meeting Sean's fragile eyes, Mark told Glade icily. "Winner gets a date with Jack. If you're so confident that you'll win." Sean opened his mouth trying to warn him about something, but Glade raised a hand to silence him, chuckling out to Mark. "A date? Fine. It's been a while since I've... shown Sean off. It will do you good to see that he's... moved on." Adjusting on his saddle, Mark turned his eyes ahead as he answered coolly. "Fine. Start the race." Glade waved a hand and the countdown started. Just before they bolted off the line, Glade informed Mark icily. "You lose, I'll kill you. Sean comes in last, and I'll send you every video I have of him... getting over you!"

Sean's jaw dropped horror, and Mark locked his jaw in anger. Glade's laughter rang out as his gryphon left the starting line first. Spurring his Pegasus to rush after Glade, Mark yelled out to Sean. "Stay with me, Jack! Let's get him!"  To Be Continued...