Breachers

Breachers – Path of Steel

15

I

Measuring Up

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Day 5

 

Marcus

 

The neurologist slowly guided Marcus’s hands forward, encouraging him to stretch his arms while his brother and sister were watching him. Marcus's limbs shook as he struggled to maintain the position for several seconds. The neurologist then checked his nerves and sense of touch, gently pressing on the young man’s fingertips with a pen and asking for any unusual feelings. Next, he checked Marcus's movements, watching as the young man clenched his hand into a feeble fist and then tried to open and close it. Finally, after holding out his own hands, he instructed Marcus to squeeze them as hard as he could. Afterwards, the neurologist offered a warm smile. “Well done, Marcus,” he said, letting go of one hand. “Now, let’s check those motor skills,” he said, handing Marcus his pen and observing as the young man fumbled for a moment before managing to grip it between three fingers.

 

“So... am I... ready... to go... home?” Marcus asked, struggling with some words, while his sister snorted, a mix of amusement and annoyance evident on her face. His younger brother, Martin kept quiet and focused on what the neurologist was doing and saying further. Marcus's speech had steadily improved the last few days, but bigger and more complex words remained challenging for him, not to mention mentally and physically exhausting him.

 

“Based solely on the examination just now, if someone had informed me that you had got up from a 13-year coma just five days ago, I would have found it hard to believe. Your progress in these last five days has been remarkable, and the physical therapist is optimistic for the coming few weeks,” the neurologist said while retrieving his pen.

 

“Weeks?” Marcus asked, shifting his gaze to his sister’s reassuring smile and his brother’s affirmative nod. He nodded as well, silently wrestling with the frustration of his weakened body that could hardly hold a spoon for more than a few seconds. He then shifted his attention back at his sister, noticing fresh bruises on her left arm. ‘She’s taken on another Breacher job.’ Marcus couldn’t forget the shitstorm he had set in motion two days ago when he pushed his best friend for the truth. He had felt bad about throwing Felix in front of the bus, but back then it had felt like it had been the only way he could get some actual answers. Apparently, monsters now infested parts of Earth, and his sister, a Breacher, was among those who went into dangerous ‘Spheres’ to kill them. ‘I still don’t like the idea of Joline doing this,’ he thought, recalling the fragmented memory of a monster he thought he had seen during the Tech expo.

 

Despite his concerns, even he couldn’t ignore just how much his sister had changed after becoming a Breacher. Her strength and ability to physically endure things now seemed almost superhuman, even though she explained to be at the lower end of the Breacher spectrum. Marcus thought his sister’s explanation about using this ‘Mana’ within herself and channeling it was strange at first. However, any doubts he might have had went away the moment he had witnessed her in action. He had seen some sort of energy envelop her body in a reflective glow for a few minutes, resembling a protective cloak. Beyond that she had also mentioned two other powers, or Abilities as she called it.

 

‘The two of them have changed so much these last few years,’ Marcus mused. Memories of conversations from 13 years ago resurfaced, recalling the times when he and his sister clashed when she had been sixteen and going through puberty, or how his little brother clung to him like a devoted fan. Now, his sister had turned into the pillar of the family, providing protection and support for the others. ‘I can’t even imagine what she’s been through these last few years or what she had to sacrifice.’ Seeing her in that light, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride, witnessing a blend of their father and mother’s strength and wisdom within her. His brother, too, seemed different. Not just physically, like his missing leg. ‘He’s distant... more withdrawn. He never used to be like that,’ Marcus thought as he watched his brother, who met his gaze before shifting his focus to the neurologist who continued explaining things to them. Marcus had tried talking with him in the last few days, but his brother’s replies had been lukewarm at best.

 

“Marcus?” the neurologist called again, snapping his fingers a few times to grab the man’s attention. A soft ‘hmm’ was all the neurologist got in response, prompting him to repeat the question. “I was asking how you’re feeling.”

 

“Good,” Marcus lied, opting not to share the restless nights he was having the last few days, where strange dreams haunted his nights, or the nagging feeling that he wasn’t properly whole, like something was missing something. “Just... slow... thoughts,” he shared, struggling with the words. He knew he should be open about his weird and fragmented dreams and what he was feeling, but he didn’t want to burden his family further. ‘They have already been through so much. Right now, I just need to focus on my physical recovery for their sake.’

 

“It’s not uncommon to experience that,” the neurologist explained in a reassuring tone. “After the trauma your body has experienced and the period of inactivity, it needs time to readjust. As it heals and repairs, we’ll gain a clearer understanding of its progress and possible damage. For now, it’s essential to maintain your daily schedule and give your body and mind the opportunity to recover effectively, alright?”

 

“Well, don’t set your expectations too high for the last part. He wasn’t exactly the picture of intellectual prowess before all this,” his sister interjected with a wry smile, even causing the neurologist to chuckle briefly before he composed himself again. Just as the man was about to discuss medication, they heard a knock on the door.

 

After rising from her seat, Joline walked to the door and swung it open, revealing two men in sharp suits, government IDs dangling from their necks. Just beside them stood a woman in jeans and a sweater, holding a police ID in her hand and a cigarette behind her ear. An awkward expression appeared on the woman’s face as she glanced at the men before speaking to Joline, “Well, this is rather awkward, isn’t it?”

 

- - -

 

A couple of minutes later, Marcus was in his bed, a machine strapped around his chest, and thick cables connecting it to another device. Curious, he reached out to touch it with a finger, only to have one of the suit-clad men calmly guide his hand away. “Let’s not break the expensive machinery, alright?” The man, a technician called Ali, said with a reassuring expression.

 

Ali carefully tightened the machine around Marcus’s frame, softly whistling to drown out the commotion going on outside of the room. Marcus’s sister and brother were engaged in a heated argument with the other government official. They could occasionally hear the neurologist and the female police officer, who apparently had worked with his uncle, contribute with the occasional murmur. Marcus couldn’t help but sigh. “Is it... always like... this?”

 

“What? People shouting and your sister threatening me and my colleague to the point where I could actually see Mana bleed from her frame in a blue mist around her?” Ali inquired, a smile gracing his features as he tapped Marcus’s rig with apparent satisfaction. “It’s fine. It’s been quite some time since we had this level of excitement. Taking a reading of a new Marked individual usually happens when another meteor hits, and they are a rarity in itself and generally singular in nature.” He then grabbed another steel suitcase before placing it beside him on the seat. “Years ago, when mandatory testing became the norm, there was a lot more resistance. People had differing opinions, some adhering to the rules, while others distrusted anything smelling of government’s involvement or worried about the possible implications of high or low readings. Still, like I said. It’s rare to take the reading of a Marked these days. Most of the time we deal with the Forged.”

“Forged?” Marcus asked, raising his eyebrow.

 

“Man-made Breachers," Ali replied, giving the steel suitcase an affirming pat. “We’ve figured out how to turn everyday folk into our kind, the Marked. I’ll let you decide for yourself if that is a good or bad thing,” he said as he gave Marcus a soft smile. “The Forged are generally not as powerful, and there are all sorts of risks involved in the procedure. But many still take the leap, hoping to change their fortunes. But, keep in mind, I’m simplifying this. It’s a lot more intricate than that."

 

‘People actually want this?’ Marcus thought as he glanced at the black Marks adorning his skin while feeling a wave of disgust. He then noticed Ali press his thumb on a scanner attached to the suitcase. In response, Marcus grew more nervous, his gaze fixed on the case. Ali had already explained how the machine operated, describing how it measured Marcus’s Mana output to assess his power. The higher the reading, the stronger he could be. “Is... is it painful?”

 

While shaking his head, the technician unlocked the suitcase, revealing three round objects nestled within along with several smaller objects, all of them pulsating. As he did, the room’s lights started flickering, as if something was interfering with it. “No, it won’t hurt. You might feel a slight tingle because of the Mana in the air, but it’s harmless for people like us for quite some time. I underwent the test ten years ago and still have a full head of hair, so don’t worry about the side effects.” The three objects bore different shades of blue, each one a different shade and intensity. “Your family told you about Monster-Glass and Orbs right?”

 

Marcus’s gaze swept over each object, his mind still processing everything he had learned when Felix had spilled the beans. Afterwards, he had confronted his sister and pried the truth from her, or at least what he had learned in the last two days. ‘I know that these ‘Orbs’s are the power sources behind the Spheres and the spawning of monsters on Earth,’ he thought as his gaze shifted towards the light blue Orb. It triggered vague chaotic memories of pulsating blue veins inside of him that didn’t make any sense. Shaking off the odd sensation and weird thoughts, he pointed at the Orbs. “Why do... they have... different... colors?” he asked as he struggled with some of the words.

 

“Yeah, this must be confusing to you, considering you’ve been out of it for so long,” Ali pitched, as he moved the case closer to Marcus. “Alright, let me break it down for you. Each Orb contains an energy source we now call Mana, although the eggheads in the scientific community are still crying about the ‘fantasy’ name that was eagerly adopted by the public, mind you. We call these things Orbs, but in reality, they act more like seeds. Most of them were in the meteors that hit Earth, and they’re what power the Spheres and spawn those monsters.” He then pressed his finger against the first Orb before slowly moving sideways. “The light blue Orbs are the weakest, then they gradually darken until they turn light red, red, dark red, and eventually, they reach gold.”

 

Marcus’s eyebrow raised in disbelief. “Gold?” he questioned, his gaze locked on the objects, vaguely recalling a red hue of sorts. An odd heaviness filled the room as Marcus sensed an uncanny pressure emanating from the objects.

 

“Yeah, I’ve never seen a gold one myself. I mean, nobody’s allowed to carry a red one without a hefty military or Breacher escort, so I don’t even want to think about all the security that revolves around a gold one,” Ali remarked, his eyes fixed on the objects in front of them. “I’m pretty low in the Breachers’ pecking order, with a power rating of eight points. A light blue Sphere would be a serious threat to me. For others, a red Sphere might be manageable. And the strongest among us might stand a chance against a gold Sphere,” he explained, gingerly picking up the light blue Orb. “Thankfully, the gold ones are incredibly rare.” The technician carefully positioned the light blue Orb within Marcus’s chest rig, giving it a few precise rotations to ensure it was perfectly centered. He then held up some peculiar rock-like material. “Monster-Glass,” Ali explained as he showed them to Marcus before placing them into the machine. “These are found within monsters’ skulls. The Orbs generate Mana, while the Glass receives it.” Next, he gently twisted the circular plate at the center of the machine strapped to Marcus’s chest, slowly rotating the Orb and the Glass. “Ready to find out your rating?”

 

Marcus nodded, his nervousness evident as he swallowed hard. A few seconds later, a switch was flipped, and the machine sprang to life. The central piece started rotating faster and faster, while the Orb glowed more violently. In response, the Monster-Glass began to pulsate bright blue. Memories and fragmented dreams flooded Marcus’s mind, swirling with images of bright lights that made no sense. His body tingled, as if something inside him responded to the Mana he was now exposed to. The Marks on his arms, chest, and the top right side of his face tingled too, as if sensing his own Mana flare up. Suddenly, the machine came to a halt as one of the Glass pieces shattered and dissipated. “Done! And you still have all your hair” Ali announced, carefully removing the remaining Glass and the blue Orb before sealing them back into the thick security case. “So, do you want your family here for the result?” Ali asked as he slowly removed the machine from the young man’s chest and stored it inside another case. Marcus gave a nod, and Ali made his way to the door, slowly swinging it open. “We’re ready for the result.” At hearing that, Joline barged into the room, followed by Martin and eventually, the police officer.

 

“What’s the result?” Joline blurted out, quickly taking a seat beside Marcus and gripping his hand tightly, as if fearing something. Even Martin, typically withdrawn, couldn't hide the tension in his shoulders and the worry etched on his face. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, waiting for the results of the test to be revealed.

 

The technician heard a low beep, and with a swift motion, he spun the screen of the machine around, displaying the results to Marcus and his anxious family. Martin and Joline couldn’t contain their relief as they both let out a breath they hadn’t realized they were holding. The screen displayed the number one, and Marcus's family visibly relaxed. “Thank god,” Martin said, leaning back slightly, while Joline’s smile spoke volumes of her own state.

 

Marcus looked puzzled, his gaze shifting between his family members and Ali. “I don’t... understand. Low is... good?”

 

As the man’s colleague packed away the remaining equipment, Ali retrieved a small folder from his pocket and handed it to Marcus. “A rating of one is the lowest a Marked can get and still be considered a Breacher, though most chose not to. The rankings are public, so having a low number means the chances of a party or guild contacting you are incredibly slim. So, I think your family is relieved that you won’t be burdened with the responsibilities and expectations that come with a higher rank.”

 

His sister pulled Marcus into a warm hug and nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "Alpha rank," she murmured, showing her gratitude.

 

"Alpha?" Marcus inquired, trying out the unfamiliar word.

 

“Greek alphabet,” Martin clarified, taking the folder from Marcus’s hands and quickly flipping through the pages to find the one that explained Breacher rankings. “Alpha is the lowest rank, then comes Beta, Beta+, Beta++, Gamma, Gamma+, Gamma++, and finally, Delta rank,” Martin explained as he handed the folder back to his brother. “Some countries prefer the use of the Greek alphabet, while others prefer the simplicity of numbers, like Alpha being one, Beta being two, and so forth. Others just use their colors, Blue, Red, etc.” Smiling, Martin rubbed his right knee before continuing. “Alpha’s the most common rank, with millions of them out there. So, no need to worry about others contacting you. Just focus on getting better and live the life you want for yourself.”

 

“I see,” Marcus murmured, his attention shifting towards the folder that neatly explained Breacher ratings, power rankings, and the Spheres that they could possibly take on with others going up to Gamma rank. ‘I guess the Delta rank isn’t public knowledge?’

 

┏ ┓

Rank		Power rating	Sphere suitability
1	Alpha	1-9	None
2	Beta	10-19	Light Blue Sphere
3	Beta+	20-39	Blue Sphere
4	Beta++	40-99	Dark Blue Sphere
5	Gamma	100-199	Light Red Sphere
6	Gamma+	200-399	Red Sphere
7	Gamma++	400-999	Dark Red Sphere

┗ ┛

 

Marcus mustered a smile as he glanced at the material while his sister once again expressed how glad she was, even thanking the government officials and apologizing for her earlier outbursts. On the surface, Marcus found comfort in knowing that his rank eased his family’s worries, and that he wasn’t injecting even more drama in their lives. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being wronged after having lost 13 years and then getting this score. He was all too familiar with that feeling, seeing as it had been a constant companion throughout his life. It was a curse running through his veins, just like it had burdened his father—Pride.

 

As the government officials bid their farewells and departed, Marcus nodded in response, leaving him alone with his family and the slightly awkward policewoman. Taking a moment to clear her throat, she pulled up a chair beside Marcus’s bed. He vaguely recalled her being a detective, but her first name, Nanda, was the only detail that stuck. “Congratulations on getting your rank,” she said. “How are you feeling?”

 

"Tired," Marcus said, his voice carrying a trace of weariness.

 

A playful grin tugged at the corners of her lips as she pushed back a few strands of her grey hair. “I get it. I didn’t realize they would take your measurement today as well. Don’t worry, I’ll keep it short. Normally, I’m assigned to different cases, but your uncle pulled a few favors and asked me to take care of this one. He thought it might be comforting for all of you to deal with a friendly face.” She retrieved a data pad from her jacket as she got ready to jot down important details. “I’ve already talked to the staff, reviewed the camera footage, and had a chat with your brother, sister, and uncle. So no need to stress. This is just a formality.” She then grabbed a printed photo and handed it to Marcus. The picture showed a vague figure covered in filthy rags and torn clothes captured on camera footage, walking down a dimly lit parking garage. “We believe this might be the person who attacked you and stole several Monster-Glass pieces. Can you recall anything about this person? Anything that stands out?”

 

Marcus shook his head, struggling to recall how he had woken up from his coma. The memories were fragmented, hazy, and twisted. “There wasn’t... a face,” he managed to say, remembering a demon-like figure hovering over him and stabbing something into his chest right as he woke up. “Sorry... it’s all... a blur.”

 

Nanda offered a comforting smile, “No worries. Again, this is just a formality. Whenever Orbs or Glass go missing, people tend to get nervous because of the risks involved.”

 

Marcus arched an eyebrow, ready to ask about the risks, but his brother anticipated the question. “Unprocessed Glass pieces are valuable, but they’re also dangerous. If left unchecked for a while, they can develop into actual Orbs and create Spheres over time. That’s why clearing monster-infested areas completely is such a challenge. Any missed Glass pieces potentially could lead to a new outbreak, weeks, months, or even years later,” he explained as he locked eyes with his brother. “The meteor strikes didn’t nearly destroy the world, it’s the minefield of dormant Orbs and Glass scattered around the world, ready to suddenly become active again.”

 

At that the detective continued. “Your brother is right. So you can understand why such a theft would make our government anxious. The way this person was dressed and the chaotic nature of the theft and assault suggests desperation. You being there might not have been something he or she had accounted for and could have forced a sudden reaction,” the detective proposed, a glint in her eyes that Marcus couldn’t quite decipher. “The forensics team is still checking the casing and bullet we retrieved from the scene, but no fingerprints have turned up so far. Still, I have other leads I’m still checking out."

 

”Glass... are... expen...sive?” he asked her as he struggled with his words, feeling the weight of exhaustion starting to affect him, slurring his words further.

 

The detective nodded. “They are worth a lot. Not as much as an Orb. But, going through five Glass a day for the last few-” Her words trailed off as Joline shot her a glance. “I think it’s been a busy day for you. How about you get some rest, alright? I think I have all the information I need, and I doubt anything can dent that 13 year-long alibi of yours.” With that, she gathered her belongings and bid farewell to the family. “I hope your recovery goes well, Marcus. And send my regards to your uncle, okay?” She asked before exiting the room.

 

His brother and sister lingered for a while longer, but eventually, Marcus explained that he was feeling tired. After getting one last reassuring hug from his sister and a pat from his brother, they left him alone. ‘A score of one,’ he thought, slowly feeling the weight of it all and what it could mean for him in the future. The way his sister and the detective had exchanged glances earlier gnawed at Marcus, leaving him with an uneasy feeling. ‘How much did it cost my family to keep me alive?’ he pondered, his body tensing as he turned to his side, clenching his fists. It took an hour of tossing and turning before Marcus finally drifted off into a restless sleep

 

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Copyright: OsiriumWrites