DISHONORED TO DOMINANCE

r the man he once was. The sharp, confident Marine who had faced the world's dangers with unwavering resol

uare jaw, once a symbol of his rugged handsomeness, was now clenched tight as he fought the tidal wave of despair that threatened to

ith a heavy sigh, he pulled on his janitor's uniform a faded blue coverall that hung loosely on his once-muscular frame. The fabric smelled of bleach and swea

ph sat on the worn coffee table, the last remnant of a life that felt like a distant dream. It was a picture of him with Sophie and their son, Madison, taken durin

eer, before the betrayal by the people he had trusted most. Before Sophie had walked out of

the frame. He hadn't seen Madison in over a year, not since Sophie had remarried and filed a restrainin

e seconds, a cruel reminder that time was marching on, indifferent to his suffering. He was already running late for work, but it hardl

dull metal doors, lost in thought. His mind drifted back to his time in the Marines, to the camaraderie and the

t into the lobby. The receptionist, a young woman with bright re

she said, her tone c

, like everyone else did. The once-great Marine reduced to cleaning up after others. It was a story that elicited sym

led around him, alive with activity and energy, but Marcus felt disconnected from it all.

form was crowded with people rushing to get to work, their faces blank, their minds focused on the day ahead. M

o the car, finding a spot near the door where he could stand without being jostled to

on, the clatter of newspapers. Marcus stared out the window, though there was nothing to see in the

pon. But nothing had gone as planned. One mistake, one lapse in judgment, and the entire mission had spiraled out of control. Marcus ha

ry he had sworn to protect had cast him aside. The weight of that betrayal was some

the crowd. The street outside was busy with people hurrying to their destinations, but Ma

ner of the basement, a small, cramped space filled with cleaning supplies and a single, flickering light. Marcus changed into his work clothes a pair of ru

ed him, and Marcus was content to keep it that way. He didn't want to make friends, didn't want to hear their whispers o

he sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the pavement as he made his way back to the subway station. The day had been as uneventful as any othe

him until it was too late. The impact was sudden and violent, sending him sprawl

ove him. The smell of antiseptic filled his nostrils, and he realized he was in a hospital. He t

he room. She was a middle-aged woman with kind eyes an

rcus croaked, his th

ined, checking the monitors beside his be

much time? His mind raced, trying to piece together what had happened.

e continued. "The doctors weren't sur

truggling to process the information. Six months in a coma. What had ha

t was as if something was tugging at the edges of his consciousness, a presence that was

d, you have

wn his spine. He opened his eyes, but there was no one else in the room. The nurse

cus thought, unsure

ess to a hidden arsenal and a sum of $1 billion. Your mission is

s chest. This had to be some