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It was over. Owen watched the newly wed couple disappear into the horizon as they drove off from the church. He had lost Caroline to Frink, there was nothing left for him now. It was inconceivable that his rival could defeat him in this way. "Caroline, how could you pick HIM when I was clearly the better choice?! How?" The world seemed to become grey around him like a movie where the storm clouds roll in unexpectedly. He turned his back on the scene and headed back to campus trying to figure out where he had gone wrong.

He sat at a table in the busy lunchroom hall. The food sat before Owen on his tray getting cold as he stared out into space, fingers crossed in front of him while he leaned over it. Several days had passed but it seemed like just yesterday that Caroline had left. People chatted all around him and quickly ate their lunches as they prepared for their next classes. Owen sat alone, thinking. While adrift in his thoughts he didn't notice a young lady sit down in front of him until she spoke to him.
"Mind if I sit here?"
"Wha?? Huh? Oh, sure help yourself." He said annoyed and returned his little world as he placed his hand on his face and supported himself.
"Thank you. It's always so busy in here it's hard to find a place to sit. You're Owen Marsh, aren't you?" She asked trying to make conversation. He looked up at her with anger in his eyes. What was the matter with her? Couldn't she see that he wasn't in the mood to talk? His harsh glance softened as he realized the situation. He had been sitting alone for the last few days. Before he'd always been pursuing Caroline relentlessly completely ignoring any other women that had an interest in him. He looked around the room and saw several female eyes were on him. He had allowed one of their kind other than Caroline to sit with him. Owen hadn't realized just how many girls he had after him. He looked back at the one before him and smiled. "And why not?" he thought to himself. He was extremely handsome, brilliant and destined for great things. It made sense that everyone should want him. What a fool Caroline had been to pass him up, of all these choice he had he chose her and she rejected him. Him! The best specimen that she had ever seen. Well now she was gone and he'd show her in his own way. He was still the best and he could have any of these at any time he wanted, and he would. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the young red head before him. This one was his now.

It wasn't long before Owen had an entourage of female followers everywhere he went. He would have three to four dates worked out each day. Sometimes the ladies knew this and at other times they did not and he was careful about keeping the latter in the dark. Of course things didn't always go as planned.
It was nighttime, and Owen sat on a bench facing a darkened beach. It was quiet except of the sound of the waves crashing on the sand. He had a lovely girl nuzzled up close against his shoulder and he had his arm around her. She was stroking his face gently but Owen's mind was out on the ocean. He stared over the black water, his thoughts sailing on the breeze.
"This is so wonderful. What a beautiful night." She said.
"Uh huh." Responded Owen softly.
"You are so handsome. All our time together has been great. We really should do this more often. I love you, Owen." She uttered sweetly.
"Oh, I love you too, Caroline."
"CAROLINE?!?! My name's not Caroline!!" She said standing in a violent fury and slapped Owen hard across the face. The sound was like that of a small thunder clap and his head was throw in the direction of the blow bringing his stray mind back to the here and now. He stood up rubbing his cheek and looked down on her with anger in his eyes as he towered over her.
"It isn't?" He asked rather surprised at having spoken the wrong name. "Well too bad for you then." He said without the least bit of concern for her emotional state. Her jaw dropped at the cold response. "You're going out with another woman and you never told me?" She said with a quiver in her voice.
"Why should have I?" He replied as he began to walk away.
"So you admit to cheating on me?"
"Yes, I already did! Why do you keep asking me, Bethany?"
"I'm not Bethany!!" She yelled. "I've had it!!! Just take me home!! Hey, where are you going?!?!" She screamed as she watched him head for his car. Owen got in his vehicle, rolled down the window and looked up at her.
"I'm going now."
"WHAT?? You've been playing me for a fool with who knows how many women and now you're just gonna leave me? It's your responsibility to take me back!!"
"Listen...whoever you are. You are safer out there than you are in here with me. It is obvious that we are through so why would you want to spend another minute with me anyway. Women, why the Hell do they have to make everything so damn complicated? Now if you'll excuse me peach, I'd like to arrive to my next date early for a change." With that he slicked back his hair, gave her an arrogant smile and his little sports car roared off down the road as he left her in tears.

Many of Owen's dates ended just like this, a slap to the face or he'd just love 'em and leave 'em. Despite this Owen was enjoying himself, and couldn't believe how quickly graduation was approaching. He was head of his class, no surprise there, and it was time he made preparations for the big day. Once handed the diploma he would be Dr. Owen Marsh. He smiled, it had a very nice and fitting ring to it. Owen arrived home and picked up his mail. He went through the envelopes and threw out the majority, it was always junk until he came to one. It had a very unusual logo on it and the return address had the large words Thanatos Industries stamped across it. He reached for a shinny gold letter opener and took out the contents. He read it quickly, his vibrant aqua eyes zipping back and forth over the pleasantries of these types of letter. They suddenly went wide. It was a job offer. He thought for a moment. Thanatos Industries, where had he heard that name before? They were a major corporation, that he remembered and he seemed to recall they had a large research department. No wonder they wanted him. He smiled and quickly decided that he would accept their offer. It was time Owen started to make a name for himself and he felt this would be the way to do so.

When Owen arrived on the site he was instantly taken by the size and magnitude of the complex. This is where they wanted him to work? This was perfect! There were two building rising on each side of the main central office. To his left he saw a darker tower on its own that was made of dark red glass. On the complete opposite side was another similar to the one he'd just seen only taller and made from black glass. In the middle hung the menacing Thanatos Logo. There was very little landscaping, the place was pretty much concrete, glass and metal, only a few plants lined the windows of the main entrance. The parking lot was enormous and filled with cars. Owen had to walk a good ways before making it the main double doors. They slid open as he approached and he went inside to the receptionist. He was then led down a corridor and up several floors in silence by two large frighteningly looking men. The elevator ride was slightly unnerving as Owen stood between the two. He looked up quietly at them. Looked up, now this was new to him. Owen was tall, at least six feet easily but these two towered over him. At last the doors opened up and they showed him to another set of large oak wood doors. One opened them up and gestured for him to step inside. Once in, he slammed the door behind him and Owen found himself alone, or so he thought.

The room was shadowy and it was difficult to see. In the distance Owen saw a dim light set on what seemed to be a desk.
"Well don't just stand there, do step inside." Said an ominous voice just behind the reach of the light. Owen walked forward as his eyes adjusted and made his way toward the desk.
"Dr. Marsh, I take it. Welcome to Thanatos Industries." The man leaned into the light and set his elbows on the desk. He had a sharp nose like a hawk, long shoulder length black hair and a hideous scar on his cheek. "I'm Mr. Thanatos." He continued. Owen studied him a moment. He could tell this man was very intelligent, definitely as smart as himself but on a different level and certainly not one to be crossed. Here was his better and unlike Frink he wasn't a rival or someone that deserved his jealousy but his respect. This Thanatos had a darkness deeper than his own and he knew that just being around him would mean learning a great deal.
"Yes, Dr. Owen Marsh. Pleased to meet you sir." He said holding out his hand. Thanatos just looked at him from head to toe.
"Yes. I know all about you Dr. Marsh, and you made the right choice by joining my team. Do you know what it is that we do here, Owen?"
"No, sir I don't. I assume that you have a research lab though, or an engineering sector." He said a little nervous.
"We build things, Owen. We build and do things here that regular companies would never do. We design chemicals for every possible purpose, we test weapons for security purposes as well as create them, we are also a business and sell to who ever can afford our products or wants them bad enough. Do you understand what I am saying?" Owen could see Thanatos now that he was completely in the light of his lamp and he had a nearly identical scar on this other cheek. He wondered how that happened. The silence hung heavy in the room as he waited for a response.
"Yes sir, I do."
"And does any of this disturb you or go against any 'ethics' you may have?"
"No at all." Said Owen with a smile.
"Good." Responded Thanatos calmly as he leaned back in his chair and pressed a pen between his two index fingers. "One of my assistants will be here shortly to show you around. You'll start off in the science labs, and once you are comfortable there we'll see where you end up." That last statement came off like a warning, but Owen was determined to do what ever it took to get ahead. He'd make his way to the top one way or another. The assistant did arrive and Owen left to be shown his office.