Chapter 462 Enter Neo, the super A.I.
The secret of Mark's grandfather is only known to him and him alone. Neither his brother nor his superiors were aware of it. To the public knowledge, he died during the Central European floods. Even Mark would only learn of the truth before his parents left him and his brother before joining the war in central Africa.
The fact that this teenager who was claiming to be his son is speaking of that matter only aggravated his mood further. Either the well-kept secret was also got out somehow or everything he believed until now was a lie.
On the other hand, Steve was a Supreme Being and a normal human like Mark (at the moment) catching his neck doesn't hurt him a bit. However, the emotional bond he had made it harder for him to get free by force and let Mark's hand tighten over his neck. At the same time, he was mentally hurt and frustrated, not knowing how to convince his dad.
As he answered that Mark himself told him the secret, the latter was in strong belief. He would rather believe that they probably found his secrets through his own mouth when they drugged him than the fact that he is in a fantasy world and the teenagers were time travelers.
Had he been a normal person, he would probably believe it. But, he was a weapons designer, a scientist who doesn't believe in things like god or reincarnation or in general, supernatural things. The fact that he doesn't have any memory as Lu Zhen only boosted his belief even more.
Mark swiftly released his grip over Steve's neck as he saw tears welling up in the latter's eyes. He returned to his room and shut the door before sitting on the bed. "Argh... this is so frustrating. Why don't they just fucking stop it? Fuu... Mark... take a deep breath and calm down. You need some solid proof that they were lying. How? How? Howwww? Hmm... wait a second." Something suddenly clicked in his head.
Mark quickly rushed out of the room while Steve was approached by James. Zan Rong was still in the kitchen, although her attention was on her nephews.
James was seen patting Steve's shoulders and saying, "You know Dad's personality. Once he is fixed on something, no matter what we say, he doesn't believe it and just keeps drawing conspiracy theories. The only way we can make him trust us is to help him retrieve his lost memories." Steve, who was sitting on the floor, raised his head to look at his brother and asked, "What about the sui..."
"Exactly,"
A voice responded while Steve was asking something in response to James' consolation. n..o--V//e(/l.-b.)I)(n
As they turned their heads to look at Mark, the latter then spoke, "If everything you claim is right, then, first, you should have powers just like the rest of you and so am I. Next, I should have the memories of this body. And two, find my brother. Bring him to me. Both of you work on those things. Meanwhile, I will take a look at your time ship. Let's go."
"Eh? Right now?" James was stunned for a second. Mark nodded, "Yes. Since I'm your father, then, both of you will listen to me. Understood?"
Steve and James nodded like chicks. Leaving behind Zan Rong at the house, Mark left with the teenagers without having lunch.
Mark was grabbed by James from behind and had his arms locked before both of them slowly rose in the air.
Mark should have yelped in surprise, but for some reason, he didn't feel much different compared to when he was on the ground. There was this no sense of excitement one would have as they flew for the first time and neither there was a fear due to the speed faster than the speed of sound. He was completely calm as if this is natural for him.
This could explain it as his body remembers that feeling of flight. But, Mark only concluded this as an illusion. Adding on top of that, he was quite uncomfortable in this position. However, he silently cooperated until they exited the forest after an hour of flying and reach a rocky region with an ample amount of space.
They landed on the ground and Steve's ring on his index finger glowed before a giant spaceship looking like a terrifying black spider made its appearance. Even its dozen long-length spikes were seen moving like a living thing.
"Hmm?" Mark automatically started marching on his own toward the ship without fear, "I feel like I have seen this before."
James quietly followed him from behind.
Mark reached the spaceship. The door opened on its own. Mark climbed the steps and got inside. The other two also followed suit.
The inside was simple. Apart from a large 9-seater sofa in the back, two seats before the control system, everything is empty. Anyone who sees this would say that the space is not being used properly.
Mark then walked to the control system that was visibly damaged with traces of burn seen in several places.
"Sigh... what I should do with this..." Mark put his hands on his waist with the look of resignation as he could feel like it is too complex already by a first glance. At that moment, he forgot about the illusion and everything else.
It was then a hand was felt on his shoulder, followed by the voice, "Here, this is the instruction manual I was given."
Mark was handed a notebook instead of some printed manual. As he opened, his eyes fell on strange writings written by a pen. However, there was a look of confusion on his face, "This is my writing and even the coding system belongs to me. Just how far these guys found out about me... Or maybe..."
Unknown to him, Mark's feeling of being wrong about everything was already started slowly weaning away.
He couldn't help but sit down and started reading. For the next 15 minutes, he kept on yelping in surprise every minute or two. Steve and James, meanwhile, stood on the side in patience.
After another 20 minutes, he finally closed the book with a satisfactory smile on his face, only to see that the teenagers were staring at him with smiles on their faces too.
His smile was gone in an instant, "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing." "Nothing"
They shook their heads in unison.
Mark then said, "Now, I'm going to live here until I repair this. This sofa will be more comfortable than that wooden cot anyways. Arrange my lunch and dinner. You can make it to that house and bring it here. If you can, set up a portable bathroom for my shower somewhere nearby. It shouldn't be a difficult task for you two, right?"
"No, it isn't, but," Steve opinioned that it is dangerous in this place, to which, Mark replied that they can guard him if they want. "Now, hurry up and go."
James volunteered to return to the tree house and bring the lunch while leaving behind Steve.
Once Mark got rid of James, he then asked Steve to stand outside as he will start observing the control system, and to do that, his concentration needed to be at its peak.
Steve obediently stepped outside of the spaceship, like a good son, taking it as a lesson to increase his temperament rather than thinking that his dad is very annoying.
Mark pressed the switch at the door and closed it as soon as he found himself alone.
Flexing his fingers, he mumbled as he took out the notebook, flipping the pages for a while and stopping at a certain page.
"I don't know if this is a prank or an illusion. Or everything is just going inside my head. Whatever the case, it doesn't hurt trying."
Mark went to the control system once again and bent down at the right corner. He caressed it here and there for a while before stopping and letting out a smile, "Here it is, the fail-safe switch. Let's see if this works out or whether I will become a fool."
Mark pressed his palm against it. Like a button was pressed, it went down, and immediately, something miracle occurred.
lightsΝοvel Strange specks of golden light erupted from the central part of the control system, scaring the hell out of Mark.
As he yelp out a cry of surprise, Steve hurriedly entered the ship using his master access and saw the entire control system covered by golden light.
Mark was on the floor in awe, watching the control system becoming as good as new as if some magic has been cast.
After the magic, slowly, the specks of golden light gathered at a single point, taking the form of a little girl. She looked at Mark and spoke in a robotic voice, "Welcome, Master. Neo is waiting for your orders."
"What... the... fuck..." Steve opened his mouth widely in shock.