"If your wondering what Inspired me to write this...A mere fact...A fact of "Peace". The kind I believe we gain at a certain age during our lives...

Something like this we all either see. Or we all imagine. Something like this that never comes to many.

My respects. My thoughts. My Believes. "

-Legendary Icon

CHAPTER 1

MORNING AFTER

Morning. Early Morning sounds. Making people wake. Some can stand the sound. Others find themselves struggling to sleep. The continuous rest we crave.

Marcus lied in his bed. Wide awake. His arms under his head. Relaxing. I can't sleep. Much like everyone else. How they call it "Adaptation". This life.

New Life of mine. Marcus sat up. His body in great shape. No pain. No worries about anything. Not anymore. Marcus held his face. Trying to stay alive.

(Never thought of this...Never came to mind...Never believed Peace would ever arrive...) he thought

Trying to relax. Over to his left hand side. His eyes caught a glimpse of a picture. His Father. Himself, and Anya. The three together. He didn't smile.

(I'm sorry...) continued Marcus

Finding it difficult to do so. Marcus struggled to do this. But Anya knew him. She knew him well enough.

Marcus touched ever so lightly the portrait. Finding it soothing to himself. He didn't bother.

Marcus stared. Pink large bunny slippers. The kind that scream to a man's eyes. The kind that yell aloud. "He's Coming! #!#$"...

(Baird's way of a another joke...to think he'd run out, nothing is certain with him) thought Marcus

Looking away towards the open window. Fresh breeze came through. Hitting him lightly. Marcus felt the wind. Light, non-lethal. Looking at the ground.

Marcus remembered what he was told. "Newly Furnished" said the Salesman. New carpet. New Home. Fixed into having a big family living here.

(Asshole smile he gave. His hands were shaking. Hoping to make a good sale. Fortunately Anya was spot on with this house, wanting a family) he continued

He shrugged. Marcus stood up. Taking a walk towards the door. He stopped. His hand almost touching the door knob. His mind told him. Anya.

Marcus looked back over his right shoulder. Seeing the beauty. Seeing his new chance. Anya. She was sound asleep. Asleep as she could be.

(Purity, Anya...ever so much) thought Marcus

Anya didn't snore. She slept soundly. Marcus grabbed his long coat. His Morning Coat shaped into many Happy smiley Faces of Cole Train.

Dom believed it to be great. A great way to show off your pride. To be laughed at he said.

(Dom, Baird, Cole...I'll get you guys)

Marcus turned the door knob. Heading out. Door closed behind him ever so silent.

His foot steps with bunny slippers didn't make any noise. Marcus stopped. Noticing the long hallway.

On his left was his study room. On the right was his bathroom. On the walls were. Well much of pictures.

(Family. They are my Family, Now and always) he continued

Hanging pictures of his family. Baird with his first born daughter. Cole with his new Football Career. Dom with his Wife again.

(Baird...he will be a good dad unless he can stop with his bullshit...but he will be either way) he continued thinking

His family so large, that Marcus needed 5 Portraits all separate. He didn't mind at all. Anya laughed at how Dom acted.

Marcus slowly walked passed pictures. Looking at them one by one. Wondering. Thinking.

Silence was his only thing. The simple thing now. One thing he knew very well apart from war.

Marcus stopped. Noticing on his right hand side. Bathroom door. With a picture. His eyes locked towards it.

He didn't smile. But found it amusing in a way. Baird slapped a picture of a Gear bending over. Showing his ass to the people.

(Fucking Baird...I swear really) thought Marcus

His hands were in his Coat pockets. Marcus continued walking. Heading towards his study room. Opening the door.

Breathing in calmly. His eyes looked around the room. Large in width. Short in length. Gear Laptop. Gear Chair.

(My own workshop...my sanctuary) he thought

Sketches on his desk. Gear mug from his father. Drawing pencils, paper, art books. Gear Chapter Books of Pendulum war heroes.

(I thank the many that fell for us...I'm sorry for what sacrifice you did...but now you gave us peace) he continued

Gear medals on his table. Gear awards on his walls. Anya pictures beside his desk. Marcus walked in ever so calm.

Marcus sat into his chair. Feeling his body calming down. His heart rate beating faster. Eager to get onto his laptop.

Continuing his daily work at home. Baird called him a lazy guy with a hobby for a job.

(Job...my job before was to protect and serve...now look at me...a computer working story writing nerd) he thought

Marcus touched the touch screen keyboard. Lights turned on from black to light blue color. The screen saver was Anya and Marcus at his wedding.

(The wedding...a great day for me and Anya...though I still didn't smile, Anya's dad hated that) thought Marcus

Looking away from it. Marcus looked towards his Pendulum medal beside his monitor. Seeing the award.

(Before...this...all of this was a dream, just a dream I would have...)he continued

(Reality is just...it's a bitch)he thought

Marcus shrugged. His breath came out slowly. Sighing out, little things he knew. Marcus looked over his desk.

Towards the window. Sunlight came through the blinds. A shadow went passed. Sounding like a bike.

(Newspaper...what I seem to rush to ever morning I wake...) thought Marcus

Marcus heard a drop of chunk. A drop of newspaper. Standing back up he walked out of his room.

(Hopefully this time, Timmy the newspaper kid didn't throw it over the lawn again) thought Marcus

Front door opened. Marcus stared at the house stairs. The house walk steps. Nothing besides the welcome mat.

Marcus sighed. Looking towards the horizon ahead of him. Finding the neighborhood. The calm sleeping neighbors.

(Many of us..more than ever...I still think we got lucky) he thought

Dawning light shining at the far edge left of this neighborhood. Marcus looked around. Closing the door behind him.

His eyes noticed the many cars. His car was a Black and grey Dodge Chevrolet. Anya's was a Hybrid convertible.

(Anya wanted me to get a nice car...when I came home with that new muscle she freaked...telling me about Hybrid cars) he continued

Walking down the stairs. Onto the concrete path. Left and right sides were his lawn. His front green lawn. His steel fence.

His mail bx had been broken for sometime now. Marcus found it as a joke. Even though it wasn't close towards the street.

Yet it still was battered broken.

(Vandalism...well I can't do much now about it, but in those days, I could kill for a mail box) he thought

Staring at the ground. He didn't see his news paper. Again.

(Crap...Not this again, I mean really...for fucks sake) thought Marcus sighing

His eyes noticed where his newspaper had landed. In the next door neighbors yard.

Marcus walked onto the grass. Noticing the newspaper. Left, right into the center of between the boundary line.

(...Hopefully he won't be awake at this time) thought Marcus

Marcus walked across his grass. Walked towards the steel fence. Bending over reaching for the newspaper.

(Crap...Crap..Crap..Crap)he thought

As he did. Marcus noticed. Large white toes. Black nails. Marcus didn't fear anything. Grabbing the wrinkled newspaper.

(...Argh! Damn!) thought Marcus

Newspaper as he tightened his grip. Standing back up. He stared at him. His next door Neighbor.

His neighbor stood staring at him. Both stood tall. Looking back at each other.

His neighbor was none other than. RAAM.

RAAM wore a black Men's Tank top. His muscles moved. Marcus stared serious at him.

(This was the real reason why that stupid, Salesman couldn't sell this fucking house) thought Marcus

RAAM didn't need to say anything. He already knew what was the situation. Again.

"Morning..."said Marcus

RAAM snarled at him. Touching the fence. Then...

"Mrrroooonnnnnnnninnnngngggggggg!"said RAAM