Null Protocol : The Mark

The smell of bacon and eggs wafted through the air enticingly. Outside could be heard the symphony of the world waking from its slumber. The cars rushing down the road, the birds singing, a rooster calling, it was a morning not unlike any other before.

Alden sat at the table his legs kicking back and forth in a steady excited motion as he stared at the blue skies outside the window. He smiled as he took another bite of his toast a soft peace washed over him. A voice cut through the quiet business of the house.

"Alyssa, can you grab my keys from the counter? I need to get to work I can't afford to be late!" A smooth voice, which was rich and deep called out across the house.

"Yes dear. Taylor you really need to start waking up earlier so you can at least share breakfast with us before rushing off to work." His mother called back with a playfully sarcastic tone. Alden looked at his mother she was a slender woman with green, almond shaped eyes her curly black hair fell to her shoulders. She smiled softly her age showing in the lines of her face, but her features were soft and friendly.

Alden turned his head to the kitchen entryway as his father walked in. He was a rather large man, tall, muscular, and a very defined jawline with hardened features. His face looked weary but kind. His father looked at Alyssa and smiled a genuine smile, his teeth showing as he laughed and said "Yes my love, I will aspire to do better." He gathered her into his arms and hugged her before planting a kiss on her forehead.

On their necks Alden could see their marks. On his Father there appears a simple square split by a diagonal line with a small gap where they almost meet, it glows a deep amber orange. The sign of a builder, this mark was one of the most common it gave people with it greater strength, endurance, as well as many insightful abilities when it came to materials and structural integrity. When his father activated it it would shift as if the lines were bricks being laid.

His mother bore the mark of the healer. This mark appeared as a half crescent moon with an empty circle in the curve. It glowed a pale green. This mark was one of the more rare ones. It granted anyone with it a deep understanding of anatomy, the ability to accelerate natural healing, and even to transfer vitality between two people. When activated the center of the small circle glowed with a soft light that grew in intesity for more severe injuries.

They recieved their marks at the age of 6. It had begun so long ago that no one truly remembered when it began. But for centuries now this was just the way things were. When someone turned 6 years old the mark would appear on their necks and grow with them until maturity when its full power could be used. There were several known marks the mark of the builder, the merchant, the scholar, the soldier, the healer, the artisan, and the noble mark.

Once your mark appeared your fate was decided for you. You would work a job that the mark enhanced your abilities for, and society decided your worth based on the rarity of the mark you held. His father worked in construction, and his mother worked in the hospital. He watched them curious and envious. He had not yet turned 6 but he had found himself daydreaming about what mark he might recieve. He hoped to recieve the mark of the soldier. They were brave and held in high regard. The soldier mark came with respect, and a higher status in society overall.

"I wanna be a soldier when I get my mark!" Alden shouted suddenly. His parents turned to him and smiled wide as his mother said "Whatever mark you get is going to be just as special as you!" His father looked on proudly and let out a soft contented sigh as he grabbed his keys and headed for the door.

"I will see you this evening when I return! I love you Alyssa! Be good Alden!" His father exclaimed happily as he walked out the door closing it softly behind him.

"Alright Alden, finish your breakfast so we can get you to school!" Alyssa said gentle but firm. Alden giggled as he quickly finished the remaining food on his plate before readying himself for school. He dressed casually with a small T-shirt and a pair of jeans. He tied his shoes and grabbed his backpack. Skipping to the door excitedly ready for his day.

As he walked next to his mother talking idly about all of his favorite superheros, his mother listened and smiled at his enthusiasm. Just ahead sitting against a building was a man who appeared dirty and exhausted, the man looked up at them with tired eyes before quickly averting his gaze to the ground on his neck Alden could see the man had a mark that appeared unfamiliar to him. It was just a perfect black circle with a broken unconnected cross through the circle. The mark had no glow and no other features.

Alden's mother looked ahead and gasped faintly when she saw where Alden's gaze was settled. "What is that mark mommy? I have never seen one like that before..." Alden asked curiously.

"It's the mark of a nobody Alden." His mother suddenly spat venomously. "Don't look at him. Come on take my hand and stay away from that man. Let's just get you to school." She continued holding out her soft hand gesturing for Alden to take it. He frowned as he looked at the man who seemed to slump, and lower his gaze even further as they passed. Reluctantly he took his mothers hand and said nothing more as they made their way the rest of the way to school.

The rest of the day passed and before he knew it Alden was sitting at his desk in his room he watched the stars flicker in the sky out his window and thought about the man from earlier. "The mark of a nobody..." he repeated softly. What could his mother have meant by that he wondered before crawling into his bed. He thought about it for a bit longer as he closed his eyes and let his mind drift to thoughts of his own marking ceremony he drifted into a peaceful sleep with dreams of becoming a hero like the people in his comic books. A smile crept across his face as he slept blisfully unaware of the larger world around him.

This was the way of the world. It was all anyone had ever known. For centuries people had been recieving these strange marks, their destiny layed out before them the day of their 6th birthday. Very soon Alden was going to recieve his own mark and his world would never be the same again.