Quiet.

The entire place is quiet.

Looking out the window, this place I am in is isolated. A massive set of buildings of various sizes connected or combined into one massive building. In the time I've been captured, I could still hear the buzzing of voices, the talking, conversations, the sound of engines running to and fro with heavy machinery to boot.

Now… everything has gone so quiet. And it's so dark now. Night has already descended on the place, casting an eerie set of ambiance on the whole place. The night sky has always been a sort of comfort to me whenever I look up to it. Now I really don't know how to feel. Sadness? Anger?... Relief?

This month has been complete hell for me and it would have been for my brother if I hadn't… if I hadn't…

"Eeeuuhhh." I sigh and turn back to the desk. Turning the swivel chair around, I sit down and stare out the destroyed door. My right index finger taps on the desk as I recall what happened.

My… uncle decided that my lack of information to him was getting tiresome. He proposed the idea to kidnap Steven Universe in an effort to get me to talk more truthfully in his eyes. I wouldn't… I couldn't stand for that to happen at all. Not in the least bit. I was forced to let the monster side that is a part of me loose in order to escape and make them pay.

After it massacred everyone in this entire facility, it set its sights on my uncle last. To its surprise, my uncle really didn't attain his high ranking position by chance over favors. He caught it off guard and promptly took it down, forcing it to retreat and allowing me freedom to come out. Unfortunately it left vulnerable enough that my uncle used an axe to chop off my hand in anger. Repeated chopping from my regenerated limb left me in so much pain, angry and desperate. He's dead now as he forced my hand and for some reason the concept of losing the last of my blood family isn't making me sad. The killings, the sheer height I was forced to push my regeneration ability to, and the transformation… has unlocked some unpleasant memories. Memories that I think were forced back. Forced for me to forget, for awhile at least.

The revelation, my family's history, the powers I could have… everything. Interesting enough though, some info feels… gone. Like I know it's there and it's something I went through but I just can't remember it. Maybe some of it got pushed to make room for the new info but it's hard to tell.

After I was released from my mom's temporary room in the temple, so much information was thrust into me. Some I'm at times trying to process but the thing was that other bits of info left me. The fate of my father was one of those bits of information. It didn't completely go away, only reshaped in a way.

But this… thing inside me unlocked the memory. And now I know that I didn't simply run away.

No. I killed my father because I was scared and afraid of dying. He forced my hand, but that doesn't mean I feel good about it. I do feel a little relief right now for the fact that I don't have anyone coming after me now. Was my uncle the head leader of the Iron Kings? Or someone else?

*RingRing*RingRing*

My finger freezes in midair as my eyes glance over to the phone as it rings. It continues to ring a couple times. 'Whelp, I got nothing else to lose.' Rolling over to the side in front of the phone, I grab the phone and slowly put it to my ear.

"Johnson. I've got some sketchy reports coming from your part of the operation and I'm want you to tell me what the hell this is." A deep somewhat wise-sounding voice speaks to me over the phone. I glance over to the computer on the desk and see it's still on with complete access. Slowly moving over to the keyboard, I find I have access to everything. "I've also got reports of the alarms in your compound going off at full blast. What do you have that's attacking you?"

"Nothing big." I comment. Obviously from the sound of my voice, he doesn't buy it at all that I could possibly be my uncle. He breathes on the other end while I adjust the phone on my ear and start cracking through whatever security defenses the Iron Kings have on the their information network. "He bit off a little bit more than he could chew and it costed him and his men."

"Who is this? Reveal yourself."

"Me? Oh I'm no one really. I apparently pissed Johnson off to the point he wanted me out of the way. From the body in front of me, and the corpses littering the entire set of facilities, it didn't go well or in… and considering the fact that I answered the phone from the head honcho's desk that you called."

"… Who are you?"

"Like I said, no one you should concern yourself with unless you make interested in you. What I want to know is who you are?"

"Who 'I' am?" He asks incredulously.

"Yeah. From what I've gathered, Johnson isn't the absolute boss of the Iron Kings. Someone else holds that rank and considering you were the one to call and 'demand' a report from him, safe to say that it's you." I nonchalantly tell him as I've already hacked my way in and a plethora of information is revealed to me.

He doesn't respond immediately but I can still hear his voice and it sounds like he might be mulling over what to say to me. "You will not get anything from me."

"That's fine. I'm sure there are other people I can talk to. Like a general in the US army, some interesting manufacturing companies on the east coast. I also got Vancouver here," I hear his voice hitch at the kinds of people I start to mention. "Although of course I'm sure the Vice President might have something to say about you as well don't you think?" I ask him sarcastically. Apparently, I was right on the Iron Kings being so much bigger than what is revealed to the public because they have their hands in a lot of interesting people's pockets. "Maybe Yuri, Jonathon, Jacob, or Takeshi could also tell me about their boss huh?" I call out some names on his captains. If know that they have connections to higher ups in various

There are a few seconds of silence before he answers, "How do you know all that?" I can almost hear the threat in his voice and tightening of his hand on the phone.

"Well as it stands, I'm a pretty good hacker. Johnsons computer wasn't locked and only gave me some bits of info. While we've been talking I went ahead and helped myself to everything else in your secret organizations log of information. Pretty great stuff if I do say so myself." I say and lean back in the recliner chair.

"… What do you want?" He asks depressed and defeated. Leaning forward onto the table, I stare straight ahead.

"Answer my question and meet my demands. Alright?"

"… Alright."

"Good. Now are you the leader of the Iron Kings criminal organization?" I ask firmly. I don't care for the man's name. With a little bit of digging I can find that myself but I just want to know how high up on the chain of command I am talking to.

"I am. I am their commander. You killed my captain, Johnson ." He firmly states.

"Good then that means you can meet my demands." I comment slightly relieved that I won't be dealing with anyone else. "Now here's what you're going to do, you're not going to come after me or anyone else I care about. Doing so will force me to break you and everyone single person under your command."

"Very well."

I pull up the manifest of the amount of money they make. "Next, soon I'm going to send you the information of a bank account. Every month on the first day of it you are to deposit $5,000 dollars into it. That shouldn't be enough to cripple your operation from the numbers I'm seeing here, correct?"

"…Correct."

"And finally, I tend work on some projects in my spare time so I'll occasionally give you a call for you to deliver some supplies and materials too okay?" I list off my last demand. The commander's breath is a little heavy so he must be getting a little agitated with my demands.

"You're really pushing things, you know that right?" He asks in a low but calm voice.

I purse my lips and lean back. "Maybe a little."

"Don't think I have better men than what Johnson had. In fact, he was the lowest captain I had and I'm actually somewhat relieved I don't have to deal with him anymore. Saves me the trouble of dealing with him and his ilk." He threatens me.

I don't respond instantly to him this time. I close my eyes and take in a few deep breaths before answering. "Of that I don't have much doubt. However I'm going to send you a picture to show you that I too am serious." With a few taps on the computer, I send him a freeze frame pic from one of the surveillance cameras.

The Mess halls camera to be exact. I hear a small beep from the other side, which leads me to believe he got the email. Some clicks later, a sharp inhale of breath later, and I can sense the small bits of surprise in his voice. "I got your picture."

"Perfect. That proves that no one is alive here and I didn't just sneak in." Leaning forward again, I run my free hand through my hair. "Look I don't care about you guys. Johnson was the one that I had a beef with so without him, I don't care about you guys." I straighten up and look to the ceiling. "As a show of good faith, I won't call the police here and expose this place. Once I help myself to whatever you have here, you can send whatever you guys you want to gather up whatever gear you can salvage. I'm sure the bodies and the surveillance footage I'm leaving will be proof to show you and the rest of your men not to mess with me. Come at me again, ever, and not only will I expose everything and everyone in your organization but I will also personally kill you and anyone in my way." I threaten him now. The whole time since I was captured by my uncle I was constantly paranoid of the fact that at any moment the Iron Kings could attack to kill or capture me, and possibly hurt those I care about. We have enough to worry about without having other humans that could come at us at anytime to deal with us. "Do we have a deal?" I ask him.

He waits for a few seconds. I imagine he's contemplating if whether or not he should agree to a deal that puts him at a disadvantage with someone he's never met or heard of before. Considering I have all the cards, I have so much info to do irreparable damage to the Iron Kings, he doesn't have a choice in the matter.

"…Johnson messed up… so much… didn't he?" He asks me tiredly.

Glancing at the body of the man in question, I nod sadly, "He did. Very much."

"…Ha ha ha ha haaaaa." He lets out small deep chuckles that evolve into small laughs before he sighs tiredly. "… We have a deal." He finally agrees.

For the first time since I was captured, I smile. "Wise move."

"I didn't get to where I am by making stupid decisions."

I raise an eyebrow in question. "And hiring Johnson…?" I let the question linger in the air.

"…"

"…"

" … There are exceptions."

"Hehehe. True." I let out a short chuckle at him and stand up. "Well, I gotta go now. Go ahead and send your people over. I'll be long gone by the time anyone gets here. Tell your men 'good luck with the mess.'"

"From the person who caused the massacre in the first place?" He questions. I shrug my shoulders.

"Your choice." I reply and lean on the table. "I hope we never meet face to face."

"And to you, as well." He agrees on that point and we both hang up.

"Hmmmm, well, time to find their armories and motor pools." Moving back in front of the computer, I bring up the map of the entire place and start searching for where they keep their vehicles. Once I find where their garage is that holds all of their standard and heavy machinery, it's to my elation that the largest armory they have in this place is also placed right next to it as well. 'Good that means I don't have to move very far to grab anything I need.' With my destination in mind, I start heading out the room to where hopefully my new ride will be. However as soon as I make it to the doorway, I can't help but turn back to the body in the room. I let out a depressed breath of air before dipping my head and closing my eyes. "I'm sorry uncle." A moment of peace later, I pick up the axe in my left hand and am now walking through the war-torn facility to where I need to go. Each body I pass just makes me feel even more depressed about what had it come to. To keep my mind off it, I focus on the new information I gathered while I walk.

'The Iron Kings are international, not just in the US. They have contacts high up in not just the US government but also in other countries as well. They also have their hands in some manufacturing companies all over as well; that's how their able to find and gather so many pieces of equipment. From the map it seems they also have their own means of making stuff as well. Not as wide-scaled but it's something. Their primary distribution and source of income comes from weapons and vehicle distribution to all corners of the planet. Secondary is sort of anonymous Private Military Contracts they take up as well in some war- ravaged places on the planet. A tiny bit of income however also comes from drug and narcotics distribution but that seems to mostly revolve around my uncle's point of operation, as well some other captains as well.' I make it outside and after a quick look around I find where I need to go. It's dark right now and it's already starting to rain. I ignore the drenching however and just continue to walk and keep to my thoughts. 'Weird thing is, now that I see how much money they seem to make, and the cost of their operation, distributing, and expenses, they seem to deliver a ton of heavy arms and equipment for no cost to different places they don't seem to control or own. I'll have to dig deeper but it looks like they don't have any bases at those places so their transferring between their men but something else.' I cut my inner thoughts off as I see that I'm standing in front of where I'm heading to. The rain continues to come down around me and I would go inside the two massive doors if it wasn't for the fact that a giant chain and lock is keeping the thing locked and closed. Looking around, I don't see anything I can use to break or cut through the metal heavy chains. "How am I supposed to…?"

A thunder strike lights up the area around me.

Staring straight at the door, my eyes slowly lean down to the gem on my left shoulder. I stare at the gem for what seems like eternity until I look forward and sigh. Slowly I bring my right arm up to my left gem. Concentrating, the gem glows and I feel the familiar presence of the Katana's handle in my grip. Slowly I pull the blade out, the sound of metal scraping accompanying it until it reverberates once it is pulled free. I stare at the shining blade as it quickly starts to get soaked in water. A thousand thoughts go through my head but one sticks to the front. I close my eyes and clench the handle firmly with it close to my chest.

"I'm sorry mom." I mutter under my breath, and raise the sword to my left.

*CHING!*

Louder than the thunder striking above, my sword cuts through metal chain with a loud clang of metal. The separate pieces of the chain swings downwards before they start to come lose without being held up by anything anymore. Once the chain fully falls away, I bring my leg up and kick both doors open. With a loud creak of strained metal, they swing wide open, revealing everything and absolutely everything I could possibly want and need.

For the first time since I was captured, I grin and get to work.


Steven stares at the rain falling down outside. The rain clouds have a slight orange tint to them as the sun starts coming over the horizon, signaling the new day. Unlike like last night, the rain has started to gradually lessen with it being a drizzle now. He can't help but stare out and wondering where he is.

"Doing alright Steven?" He looks up to see Garnet staring down at him. She sits next to him on the couch and looks outside too.

"He'd be able to help, you know." He mutters depressed. Garnet nods, knowing full well who he is talking about.

"I know Steven. I know."

"And there's nothing in your future vision for when he's coming back?" He asks looking at her, hoping she proves him wrong.

With a depressed head shake she shakes her head no. "Since he disappeared, I've been trying to concentrate to hopefully find something worthwhile… but nothings worked."

"Mmm." Steven moans depressed and lays his head on the window sill. A hand pats his head, making him look back up to see Garnet giving him a comforting smile.

"However, I do know he will return to us. Just have a bit more patience." She tries to console.

"It's been a month now Garnet." He frustratingly says. "How much more patient can I be?" He asks.

"I know Steven. I wish I could do or say anything else, but I can't." She tells him with her head down.

"Huuuuu… alright." He concedes and sits up. "Why don't you go get the others? I'll join you in a bit."

"Okay then." She nods back to him and gives him a hug before getting up an leaving.

Steven smiles at the gesture and looks back outside to see the rain has stopped now and the clouds are starting to part away from each other. "Where are you, bro?" He questions under his breath. He's about to turn around and join everyone else but a curious sound gets his attention. "Huh?" He questions as the sounds starts to get louder and it almost sounds like some weird sputtering noises. Walking outside onto the balcony, he looks up and down the sides of the beaches for the noise but their clear of anything. Soon it sounds like its right on top of him. "What is that?"

*FWOOOOSH*

"Whoa!" Steven cries out in surprise as a gust of wind almost knocks him to the ground. Grunting a little to get up, he pulls himself via the wooden railing and looks up. His eyes widen at what it is that knocked him down.

A helicopter just flew overhead carrying a massive transport shipping container with it. The helicopter in question is a dangerous and versatile piece of heavy machinery straight from the Russian military. The modernized Russian Hind, the Mi-35M Hind E Russian helicopter has just flown overhead complete with a full payload of heavy armaments both under its wings, under the cockpit, and in the cargo container it is carrying. Normally most helicopters can't carry one, plus the contents of said container, but the pilot of the helicopter made a few… upgrades before departing from the facility with his new gear.

Steven stares in amazement at the war machine as it glide down from above the cliff and smoothly banks itself back to the beach in front of him. As it slowly comes to a hover on the beach, his mouth keeps it's open mouthed state of awe as he watches it.

With the flick of a switch, the wires holding the container under the helicopter comes free and it thuds on the sandy beach. Next the copter moves over to the side and begins its descent next to the container. 'Who… who is? Why are they—' Stevens thoughts are cut off as he realizes out of all the people who could possibly make such an entrance, his open mouth of awe turns into a starry-eyed grin of happiness.

"What is that noise?" Pearl questions as she and the other Crystal Gems star coming out of the temple.

"I don't know. It sounds like it's coming from—"

"GUYS!" Steven immediately cuts off Amethyst with a yell as he bursts through the front door.

"Steven! What's wro—"

"HE'S BACK!" He happily shouts. The gems look at each confused before looking back to the kid. "HE'S BACK! HE'S BACK! HE'S BACK!" He continues to happily chant over and over again.

"Who's back, Steven?" Garnet asks.

"MARCUS! HE's BACK!" He shouts as the helicopters blades gradually begin to slow down. All the gems look surprised at the sudden declaration as Steven turns around outside. "HE'S BAAAAAAAACK!"

"Steven wait up!" Pearl shouts as Steven runs outside, arms in the air as he jogs down the stairs. The gems all run outside but seeing the helicopter and the cargo container gives them pause.

Steven meanwhile makes it to the sandy ground and jogs closer to the helicopter, ignoring the slowly spinning blades above. He stops a few feet from the machine with a teeth filled grin as he watches the person inside the top cockpit flip a few switches. 'Please be him. Please be him. Please be him.' He repeats in his head, hoping it'll be true.

"Steven becareful!" Pearl comes up behind him with her spear out. "We don't know who that is exactly." She warily says as she and the others get ready.

"But—"

"Hold on. Get ready." Garnet warns as the window door to the cockpit flips open. The gems get ready to fight in case the person turns out to hostile towards them.

Once feet touch the ground, the Crystal Gems stare in amazement at the pilot.

"Hm, is that anyway to treat a friend?" Marcus asks with a smile.


'Holy crap… I have been gone for far far too long.' I think as I stare at the statue for a second before staring at my reception party. Tears start to well-up inside me as the month long hell I've been in finally comes to a close. I've missed my family.

"MARCUS!" Steven immediately jumps forward and grips my chest in a hug. I take a step back from the force but I immediately wrap my arms around him as well in my own hug. He starts laughing as we bury each other in each others shoulders. "Your…" He pulls back and my heart breaks seeing tears roll down his face. "Your back. *Sniff* Your really back." He states, his voice slightly cracking. Tears start to flow from my eyes too as I nod. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too Steven. I'm back." I say firmly. With a smile, we hug again tightly. My eyes clench shut but the smile still stays on my face. "I am back… and I swear, I'm never going to leave you again." My voice threatens to break as well. Unlike last time when I was taken, it was only a week I was taken and I barely remembered most of the trip. This month, being away from my family for so long, was the most grueling experience of my life. And it wasn't because of the pain I felt, but in fact that I didn't know what was going on with my family and that I couldn't see them. Now that I'm back… I have never been happier. I don't even care anymore about what happened. These are the family I need.

"Ma-M-Marcus?" I open my eyes to see the others staring. Tears start flowing from Pearl's eyes too as we look at each other. Steven and I pull away from each other and gently set him back on the ground carefully.

I take a step forward and smile at them. "It's me. I am back… finally."

Pearl moves forward but despite the tears, I feel like there's something else with—

*SLAP*

The sting of an open palm slap by a very powerful very strong alien gem gives it away. Everyone gasps as my head is suddenly thrown to the right. To say I'm surprised is an understatement.

I look back at her in surprise to see she has a slight scowl on her face. "That… was for keeping the Iron Kings knowing about us a secret!"

"Wha-!" I say confused as I grab my stinging cheek. "You- You found the- I'm sorry but I didn't want you to—!" I try to explain I only did it so they wouldn't worry but Pearl's hug stops me from speaking.

"But I am so happy your back regardless." We hug each other as we cry in each other's shoulders. "You've been gone for so long we were getting so worried! We couldn't go look for you because we had no idea where you were and—"

"Pearl." I pull back and grip her face with both hands. She stops her ranting and looks at me. I give her a comforting smile and gently wipe away her tears from her left eye with my right thumb. "It's okay. I'm back now… and I'm sorry."

Her lips quiver and we embrace in a hug again. "I'm so glad your okay."

"Me too." I reply. A presence on my leg tells me that Steven has joined in the hug.

"Welcome back man." Amethyst says as she too hugs me.

"Good to be back."

"Good to see you again." Garnet joins in the hug pile as well, encompassing all of us in her hug.

"Thanks guys." We stay like that for a while before we eventually break off from each other. I wipe my eyes and smile in relief. "I needed that. Really."

"You're welcome." Garnet says as everyone takes a step back.

"So what happened to you?" Steven loudly asks. "Why were you gone for so long? Where did you go?! AND where did you get THIS?!" He especially loudly asks the last part as he gestures to my new helicopter.

The memories flash of what happened and I'm slightly depressed again, but only slightly. "Listen Steven, I'd be glad to recount to you all of what happened while I was gone, but right now I am very tired and I just want to sleep." I tell them and start trudging my way to the temple. Being gone for so long and sleeping in the worst conditions, even the couch sounds like heaven right now.

"That's probably a good idea." Garnet agrees with me as she and the others start trailing behind.

"Yes. I'll go ahead and fix you something to eat right now too. I imagine your captors weren't all that… hospitable?" Pearl asks and I can't help but nod slowly as I step of the stairs.

"Nope." I say while popping the 'p'.

"Well, at least your back man." Amethyst says as she pats my lower back.

"Really good to be back." I say again how good it is to be back. We soon make our way to the front door and I step.

"OhwaitMarcusweforgottomenti—"

"Alright you Crystal Gems! Go ahead and gather round while Steven and I—"

"…"

"…"

For some reason, I am now staring at Peridot who is in the middle of the living room holding a fly swatter. Now normally I would try to attack, capture and interrogate her for what she knows… but I've had enough interrogations now. And for the fact that is a lot shorter than what I remember. Parts of her legs are missing, and those gauntlets with the floating fingers are missing too.

I feel the others eyes on me as the two of us stare at each other for I don't know how long.

*Crink*

The sound of popping metal makes us all look outside to see the metal chain I had on the container snap off. The doors are pushed out as my new Ford F150 Dually lifted four door black colored truck rolls onto the sand with its back filled with tons of crates filled with materials, ammo, and weapons.

We stare at the truck for a bit before Peridot and I look at each other again.

I let out a very deep sigh as I rub my eyes with my right hand. "We all have… soooo… much… explaining to do." I move into the house and Peridot gives me a wide-berth but I ignore and collapse onto the couch face down. "I did not come back to deal with this crap!" I loudly say muffled through the cushions in the couch.

And I think that gives you all an idea where we are in the storyline now. Seriously after the 'Wanted' special, I've just been on a constant grind of chapters for Steven Universe and it's great.

I'm probably gonna write a few more chapters here before I get back to my other stories just to get me back into the grove of working with the actual episodes of the show.

Nothing new has happened to me thus far, same old same old.

In any case, thank you all for reading, your reviews, much appreciated, have a great day and as always, have fun reading.