Erick woke the next morning and for some reason he was laying on his stomach and Gaige was on top of him sleeping soundly. He reached back and pinched her behind in an attempt to wake her. She remained asleep so he pinched her again a little harder.

"Whaaaat?" Gaige moaned.

"Wake up."

"No."

"Can you at least roll off of me? Please?"

"Too comfortable."

"Don't make me switch to more aggressive tactics."

"Like what?"

"I don't know yet but I hope you aren't ticklish."

"Fine." Gaige reluctantly rolled off.

"How did you end up on top of me anyway?" Erick asked, wrapping his arm around Gaige.

She pushed his arm away.

"I guess you don't remember rolling over on top of me. Didn't even wake up as I fought to free myself." She said venomously.

"I'm sorry. Sharing a bed is not a skill I have learned yet."

Gaige rolled over and faced Erick. "Please learn it quickly, last night was not fun."

"I will. How about I make it up to you with some breakfast?"

"Can we save it for tomorrow? I kinda already planned one for you."

"I guess I better shower then."

Erick got out of bed and began fantasizing about the impending meal he was about to have. He had almost forgotten what food even was since the only thing keeping him alive for the past month was Eridium energy and his will to return home.

Once Erick locked the bathroom door Gaige sprang out of bed and headed for the kitchen. There was an older man in his 40's sitting at the table which already had a breakfast for two set up. He was reading a book while drinking a cup of black coffee.

"You're quick, Mr. Graham."

"Call me Joshua. And yes, you learn a few tricks as a single father of three kids that wake up to the smell of bacon. How'd you sleep?"

"I've had better nights." Gaige yawned.

"He roll over on you?"

Gaige nodded.

"Next time that happens, take your thumb and jab it into his ribs. That's how my wife trained me."

"That would hurt."

They both looked up to see Erick leaning in the doorway.

"That's kind of the idea, son."

"I guess so; I heard it's no extremely pleasant when someone almost twice your size rolls over on you."

"Why don't you and Gaige sit down to eat before you favorite huckleberry pancakes get cold."

Erick remained in his spot.

"The pieces of the puzzle are falling in and I am beginning to have trust issues. I was rescued by a US Marine Orbital Drop Squad which means that you are here with the fleet. Are you here to see your son or retrieve a soldier gone AWOL?"

"I came here to deliver the good news." Joshua pulled out a large file folder.

Erick walked over and reached for the folder but his father pulled it back.

"Sit down and eat your damn breakfast."

Erick did what he was told as Gaige watched in amusement. A god still bound by the orders of his father.

Erick began eating as he remembered the Saturday morning races against Ari and Logan to stockpile the most bacon before it was gone. He was already halfway through his plate when his father spoke up again.

"I'm sure you remember well enough so I'll skip to the points. Madame President Caruso has been impeached and found guilty of illegal military recruitment and the using of government funds to post a bounty and hire mercenaries. She will be spending a long while in prison. The majority of this folder is full of court documents and transcripts, the rest is your diploma and documents for a lifetime scholarship to anywhere should you choose to go to college."

"How did she get impeached?"

"I spent the first six months after you left collecting evidence and organizing for the trial."

Joshua's watch alarm sounded off and was quickly silenced.

"I'm sorry, Erick, I agreed to help train up some of the Crimson Raiders and it's about that time. I'll be back in time for your Underdome fight tonight."

He brushed back his graying hair and quickly left.

"Can I ask you something, Erick?"

"Sure."

"Your father's last name is Graham but yours and your grandfather's names are Roberts. How did that work out?"

"It's my mother's maiden name, but that's all I know. You know what's funny though?"

"What?"

"It's been a year since I've seen him and he didn't even say hello." Erick grumbled as he placed his dirty dishes in the sink.

"I wouldn't talk; your greeting was just as cold." Gaige scoffed.

"I believe I am entitled to a few trust issues when my father shows up with the entire United States Space Navy. Not to mention Huey's confession yesterday."

"I thought you forgave him."

"I did but that doesn't change the fact that four mercenaries are dead because he couldn't keep his mouth shut!"

"Erick, I know you regret everything that has happened but it is all working itself out, try to see that, for me."

"But I don't regret anything because that would mean I regret meeting you."

Gaige smiled and tried not to become distracted from the point, she could tell he wasn't trying to do that.

"Why are you so upset about all of this if you don't regret it?"

"Because most things happen in life for a reason and the world, or in this case The Mother, could give a shit less whether I like it or not."

"Tell the world to shove it; I want you to be happy. You did what you had to do to keep your freedom so don't feel bad for those mercs, they knew what they were getting in to. I know how hard it is to leave your family and escape to a hostile planet. The only difference between us is you can go home now."

Erick could see tears forming in Gaige's eyes so he quickly pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

"When this is all over, I will take you back to Eden-5. We will climb Holloway's ivory tower together and make sure he screams the whole way down. I promise."

"I'll hold you to it." Gaige said as Erick released her. "You have some training to do first so I need to get dressed."

Once Gaige was ready they flew to the buzzard nest atop Sawtooth Cauldron. Sawtooth Cauldron was abandoned after Brick's Slab Bandits wiped out the rival Sawtooth Bandits. The only inhabitants now were small time bandits and the occasional adventurer. The buzzard nest had several target dummies set up for Gaige's training course.

The fresh air from the flight had lightened Gaige and Erick's mood. Gaige was even a little more bubbly than usual which meant her Anarchy was high.

"Ok coach, what's the first training exercise?" Erick asked.

"I'm going to teach you about Anarchy."

"Isn't Anarchy just chaos?"

"No, that's a misconception. Anarchy is where there is no government, the only laws are written by your conscience."

"How does that make Anarchy a combat skill?"

"If you learn how to use Anarchy you can increase your abilities at a cost."

"What does it do?"

"It works differently for everyone but, with me, I can dish out a lot of hurt at the cost of accuracy. You will most likely be different."

"How do I unleash my Anarchy?"

"Anarchy is fueled by volatile or energetic emotions like excitement. You just use what comes easiest."

Erick stepped a safe distance away from Gaige to try to unleash his Anarchy. He channeled all of his rage and fear for Richard into his power. Erick immediately erupted like a bonfire of red lightning raging about his body, his power was limitless. He shot a lightning bolt at a target dummy causing it to explode, taking out nearby dummies. He continued firing until every target was destroyed. His lightning faded away and he turned around to see Gaige staring in awe.

"Are you alright?" Erick asked.

"I think I have a ladyboner."

"Come on, be serious."

"I am serious, you are so HOT!"

"I honestly don't feel that way."

"What happened?" Her tone was more serious.

"I channeled my emotions and I felt invincible and infinite, almost uncontrollable. When I finished, I felt dark inside, almost evil."

"What emotions did you use?"

"Fear and rage."

"Anarchy doesn't come without a cost; it takes as much as it gives. I give it a little excitement and I receive a higher damage output as it penalizes my accuracy. You gave it one of the most powerful emotional combinations and it saw a fire sale. The negative effects don't last long but then again I have never seen Anarchy stack that powerfully. Just be careful."

"That would have been nice to know beforehand." Erick said unhappily.

"I didn't expect you to go thermonuclear."

Erick walked over to the edge and sat with his feet hanging over the edge and Gaige joined him.

"Do you know anything about my Underdome fight?"

"I just know that it is going to be three rounds of Moxxi trying her hardest to kill you. If I heard correctly, you will be fighting the same fight that Mordecai fought to become the champion."