Mark sat beside Jack for hours. All he felt like doing was watching over his condition. Elis refused to unstrap him from the gurney, claiming that he could still hurt himself in his weakened state. Mark didn't believe it but didn't have the strength to argue with him. Elis kept a sleeping mask over Jack's eyes to protect them from the light and only ever lifted it to apply eye drops that were supposed to help him. Holding Jack's hand, Mark napped by his side until Malcolm coaxed him off to bed. It was difficult to sleep in his cold bed when all he had to listen to was Jack's heart monitor and the conversation between Felix and Malcolm. They had no idea what to do with the android yet... but Mark didn't care enough to listen to their struggles with it. Jack was out. He was safe. No sooner had he finally drifted off, he was awakened by a hand shaking him. Opening his eyes with a reluctant groan, he caught sight of Elis and jerked upright.

Shushing him, Elis beckoned him to follow him downstairs. Mark's heart immediately sank when he saw Jack twisting and thrashing in his restraints. Gesturing to him, Elis told him curtly. "Talk to him. Try to calm him down. I can't let him up yet. He needs to rest more. His body isn't ready." Moving up to Jack's side, he touched his arm. Only to jerk his hand back when Jack flinched and cried out like he'd struck him. Easing into the chair by the gurney, Mark spoke softly to him. "Jack? I'm here... You're alright." Jack's voice was a rough broken mess when he pleaded aloud. "Please... Let me go... I won't do it again..." Raising an eyebrow, Mark looked to Elis and asked. "What is he talking about?" Elis shrugged meekly, upon answering. "Jack is... a little confused. He thinks he's still in the game." Reaching out, Mark touched his knuckles to Jack's cheek, his heart twisting when he watched Jack turn his head away.

Checking Jack's vitals through the monitor, Elis informed Mark quietly. "I thought maybe hearing your voice would calm him down... but he's disoriented and scared. I'd take the blindfold off but exposure to light this early got blind him." Mark stroked his hand along Jack's arm, feeling how his arm shook beneath his touch. The soft whines that left Jack's throat were torture. Resting his hand on Jack's, Mark stated a bit pained. "I don't understand. He was so... different in the game. Why is he like this now?" Elis dropped into a seat by the desk, honestly informing him. "Jack has been in the cyberspace for years. That does a lot to the way your brain progresses things. In order to get him out... I had to remove him from the game. Putting him in that dark void you saw when you came out. However... in Jack's case... his mind is... still thinking it is in the void... Only time will get him out."

Biting his lip, Mark slid his hand over Jack's chest, feeling how fast his heart was beating. He'd never seen Jack so scared. Running a hand through his hair, Elis told him nervously. "My worry is that his fear will trigger an asthma attack. And then there is the problem of feeding him. His body is already weak... and it's growing weaker now that he's awake and in this state. If I can't get liquids into him..." Mark nodded, not needing to hear more. Gesturing to the microwave, Elis told him gently. "I've got tomato soup for him. I can't put him back on I.V.s to feed him and I won't shove the tube back down his throat in this condition. It will just make everything worse. So... any ideas?" Mark sighed, asking anxiously. "Sedating him? Would that help?" Elis sighed, slumping back in his chair as he admitted. "I wouldn't do that to feed him. He could choke or drown. And if I put the tube in and feed him... only to pull it out... that will hurt his throat. It's why doctors don't use it after coma patients wake up. Not counting if the sedation wears off... he could panic with that in his throat. I'm just not confident in it."

Jack weakly jerked against the restraints, mumbling something that Mark didn't catch. Placing a hand on Jack's forehead, he told Elis with concern. "He feels really warm..." Getting up, Elis retrieved a washcloth and soaked it in cold water. He then handed it off to Mark, telling him gently. "It's a side effect to the meds I'm giving him for his eyes. It helps fight off infection. But its not helping his mental state, I'm sure..." Dabbing at Jack's forehead, Mark leaned in to whisper near Jack's ear. "Jack? Sweetheart? I'm right here with you. Focus on me... Can you feel this? Can you feel me?" Mark stroked his thumb over Jack's cheekbone a few times. Jack didn't answer him, but his fast breathing slowed. Jack's wrists twisted in the restraints again, trying to pull himself free, when he asked in a broken voice. "Why can't I see? Why can't I move?" Jack began to cry, causing blood to leak down his cheeks. Cupping his face, Mark told him as genuinely as he could. "It's ok. You're still recovering. Your body is weak... I need you to eat."

Jack shook his head, curling his trembling lips shut. Looking up at Elis, he told him seriously. "Get me the soup." Retrieving it, Elis cautioned him seriously. "Mark, you can't force him..." Taking the cup, Mark sat it on the side table, answering casually. "I won't do that. I'm just gonna let Jack's body tell him what he needs." Dipping a finger in the warm soup, Mark quickly brushed his finger over Jack's lips. Jack jerked and thrashed a bit, but after a second or two, he tentatively licked his lips. Dipping his finger again, Mark repeated the gesture and this time Jack didn't thrash or resist it. His tongue sliding out to bravely lick it off. Elis smiled, asking curiously. "Where did you learn to do that?" Smirking, Mark told him casually. "I helped my mom with some puppies a few years back. They had never fed before, and a vet told us that they'd feed if you let their body tell them what they needed." Slipping a straw into the soup, Mark held the cup as Jack slowly sipped it down.

When Jack finished it, Mark handed it off to Elis, asking curiously. "Can we give him more?" Shaking his head, Elis warned him. "No. Baby steps. I need to see if his body will keep it down first. Remember... his body has to relearn how to function without help." Mark reluctantly nodded, Jack was clearly still hungry, but he listened to Elis. Taking a risk, Mark leaned over to kiss Jack. The kiss was brief and tender, but he hoped it would help calm him. Since the last thing Jack had felt in the game was... him. Easing up, Mark yawned and then told Elis. "At least that is a start..." Sliding his hand off Jack, he started to head back to bed, when Jack jerked and blurted out in a panic. "MARK?!" Quickly putting a hand back on him, Jack calmed down and seemed to drift off. Looking to Elis, Mark gulped. Elis grinned, telling him through a chuckle. "I think you should take a seat, Mark. It's gonna be a long night for you."

Mark frowned at the thought but sat down with a small smirk. If Jack needed to feel his touch to be calm... he could suffer for that. Stroking Jack's chest, he rested his head down on his other arm and began to hum to himself. To his relief, he saw Jack's lip twitch with a smile and heard him exhale deeply. Snuggling closer to him, Mark smiled and kept humming and stroking his chest. Even long after Jack had fallen asleep. Anything he had to do to help him rest, Mark told himself that he'd do it. Barely able to keep himself awake and long into the night, Mark blinked as eyes illuminated in the darkness. One green and one blue. Sitting up, he realized it was coming from the android across the room. Its arms had been wrapped up in chains to hold it upright and its legs were chained to keep it to the ground. The android tilted its head, lightly mocking Mark in a quiet tone of voice. "I bet you think you've won. You got him out. You've freed him. But you forget... everything is online now. Jack's money... his bills... his whole life... wrapped up in online media and perception."

Mark tensed, asking nervously. "What are you saying exactly?" The android smirked wickedly, informing him rather coolly. "You and your boys... You think I was made by Glade? You're wrong. The company that made me... wants to control Glade. To do that... they need HIM. I'm came here to retrieve him and kill all of you. No witnesses. Just an accident that killed you all. Everyone will think Jack is dead... and the company will control Glade's obsession." Slowly getting to his feet, Mark uttered out scarcely. "You're lying. Glade sent you. He said so." The android rolled his eyes, stating dryly. "Glade wanted YOU to kill me. He can't afford for the company to get Jack. He needs Jack to die in the server. The company wants Jack alive, until they can figure out how to deal with Glade." Snorting, Mark waved to the android, dismissively retorting. "Then what are you? A sick joke? Why tell me this? Why not just give yourself to Glade!"

Tilting its head back, the android coolly answered. "I am a prototype. The company has tried giving me to Glade... but I'm not whole. I need more memory. HIS memories. Something I can only get by scanning more of his brainwaves and downloading every aspect of his life. Don't you get it? The company plans to make me Jack's replacement. Jack being imprisoned by the company isn't their end game. I AM." Meeting Mark's eyes again, the android added almost too calmly. "I'm telling you this for one reason only... The company has seen the rivalry you have with Glade over HIM. They've decided to change their plans... They want me to tell you this... You're not done playing the game, Mark. It's only just begun." Swallowing, Mark asked in a worried voice. "How is that possible?" The android chuckled, answering lightly. "The company has a setup. A kind of... VR arena. Finish the game you started. Kill Glade and the company won't take Jack from you to finish making... me. Do you understand?"

Mark hesitated to answer, prompting the android to add in warning. "If you refuse, know this. The company already knows where you are. They use satellite tracking. They's got your friends and family under surveillance. They can freeze all your bank accounts. They can uproot your entire lives with a single phone call. They can hire people to... make accidents happen to prove a point. No government on this planet will help you... because the company is funded by them. So... shall we play a game, Mark? I've made my move. What's yours going to be?" Glancing down at Jack, Mark returned his eyes to the android, stating sternly. "I do this... the company leaves Jack out of this fight?" The android nodded, answering bluntly. "Win and the company will leave Jack alone. Lose... they start work on plan B." Taking a deep breath, Mark told the android sternly. "I want it in writing and notarized by the company. And I'm not leaving until I get it and until Jack is recovered enough."

The android was quiet for along minute, before it answered rather menacingly. "Agreed. We'll be watching you."  To Be Continued...