Episode 9

## An Ounce of Energy Drink Is Worth a Pound of Cure

***An Ounce of Energy Drink Is Worth a Pound of Cure*** (転ばぬ先のエナジードリンク, *Korobanu Saki no Enajī Dorinku*?) is the ninth episode of *The Marginal Service* anime series.

## Summary

Theodore explains that they can't see or interrogate Rubber. Zeno keeps on insisting as its their job and if they can't interrogate him, they can't do their job. However, Theodore still refuses. Zeno then states that this whole situation is strange and something feels off, but moments later he collapses. He dreams of his past and wakes up in Cyrus' lab, where Brian had taken him. Zeno guesses its due to the gas he inhaled from Rubber and tells Brian to leave him alone. However before Brian leaves, Zeno tells him that Theodore is acting strange and is hiding something, and they need to find out what.

A bit later, Theodore goes out, explaining he will be back in the evening. Zeno then gathers the rest of the Marginal Service and wants them all to follow Theodore. They have put a GPS on Theodore, but also follow him just in case he finds the GPS, and split up in groups of two. They find Theodore going left and right, a bit suspicious. At an arcade center, he almost catches Lyra and Cyrus, who act as a couple and kiss to remain unnoticed. As he passes by them, Lyra hides in a photo booth, but as Cyrus checks on her few moments later, she had disappeared. Bolts and Robin then proceed following Theodore. As Theodore stops for a while at a shop, the two get distracted by a fitness gym, where they compete on how can lift more. Seeing Theodore leaving the store and losing him for a moment, the two split up to find him, but a moment later, Bolts disappears. Brian then sees Theodore in a taxi and chases after him. Cyrus sees Lyra in a dark alley, but then he disappears. Moments later, Robin also disappears. Brian catches up to the taxi, but its a different man inside. He then sees Theodore across the street. Zeno tries to contact everyone, but no one responds as all had disappeared, and soon finds a mask with Theodore's face.

Zeno heads into an abandoned building. Soon, the rest of the Marginal Service team arrive and each have some excuse on why they disappeared. They all want to drop the search for Theodore and go home. Zeno shows the mask, but they all claim it doesn't look like Theodore. Zeno then guesses that someone was pretending to be him or its Theodore's shell and has mimicking ability. Zeno then states that Theodore is a Borderlander, and has connection with Rubber, which is why he is protecting Rubber. Zeno then states that the whole Marginal Service is suspicious and wonders if they are even real. Zeno takes out a gun and points it at them. He tells Cyrus to give his surgical kit and wants to take blood from everyone, stating that Borderlanders have different blood than human's.

He forces everyone to draw out some of their blood, but finds nothing strange. Zeno then states that Borderlanders are hard to kill and decides to burn the blood, to see if it will have some reaction. However it again has nothing strange. He tries another method, using energy drink, but it again has no reaction. Still not wanting to give up, Zeno buys some food with garlic and explains that Vampires are weak to it, and since Borderlanders can be considered monsters, it can also have an effect on them. The team had enough already and jump on Zeno and tie him up.

They take him into different place and remove the bag from his head. They all wear Theodore masks and prepare to shoot him, but then congratulate Zeno on his birthday. Theodore and Peck then enter, bringing a cake. Theodore then explains that he knew Zeno would be against it, so he decided to prepare the party himself, but that drew unnecessary suspicion on him. He ended up telling everyone about it, while they were tailing him, although it was a bit hard to do it without Zeno finding out. Zeno can't believe they did all this for something that silly, but Brian tells him its important to celebrate your friends birthdays.

Few moments later, they receive information from UN, that the child of an executive has been kidnapped. As there are photos, Zeno recognizes a symbol from his past.

## Gallery

### Episode 9 Screencaps

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## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Brian Nightraider
* Zeno Stokes
* Theodore Tompson
* Bolts Dexter
* Robin Timbert
* Lyra Candeyheart
* Cyrus N. Kuga
* Peck Desmont