"I can't believe that nice old lady gave me the bread without me even noticing it... Man, she's just like a ninja...!" 

A darkened alley is illuminated by neon lights and a bright moon beaming down on the city of New Ancora, bringing the settlement that never sleeps truly to life. However, Markus being someone who lived by 'old-school time zones' was just about ready to pass out after a long day of walking. Finding himself a small gap -- a corner -- which he could inhibit for the night, Markus lets his backpack fall carelessly to the ground, unceremoniously retrieving his new-tech sleeping bag and laying it out on the floor in which he would sleep. There wasn't anything too special in regards to sleeping bags from the future, aside from having an adjustable temperature, an in-built pillow of varying comfort ranges, and being easier to wash and keep clean. Markus took a seat on the sleeping bag and fetched himself the bagged bread, making the most delicious butter sandwich one could imagine; Hell, it could basically be considered a toasty! Markus was smart like that - he could use his head and do just about anything.

"Mmmm! The old lady sure knows how to make bread! I wonder if there's a secret recipe...?" Quizzes the man who claims to be of the olden days, as he took another bite from his toasty and began toasting another piece of bread on his sleeping bag. The night air felt cool on the skin of The Outsider; someone who had lived in a place that was generally quite scorching was not used to cool air being blown on their skin. Despite the chill of the night, it was quite nice to not be burning up at 10:46pm - at least he wouldn't get moon burn here...

The bread went a long way. One thing Markus had found about the food of today was that not only did it taste divine, but it was easily quite filling and nutritional. Food had come a long way since the old days, and Markus was quite surprised that he couldn't eat any more than three pieces of bread, not that it was unpleasant or anything. "Ah, that hit the spot... And I've still got heaps left! Should be enough to get me halfway through District 16, if I eat smart." Cooling down the sleeping bag, Markus lays back and stares up at the starry sky from his place in the alleyway. "District 16, huh...? I've got quite a ways to go if I want to reach the end." The dark-haired man of mystery chuckles to himself. "This is gonna be a long ass journey, I bet... I hope at the least it'll be interesting. Though, with District 17 being as cool as it was, I bet this next District is gonna be even cooler...!"

Markus couldn't help but yawn as he felt himself becoming more and more fatigued. After a long day, he could always appreciate a good night's rest. Shutting his eyes, the homeless adventurer rolls on his side and smiles to himself. 

"Let's hope District 16 is full of surprises, too..."

[hr][center][h2][i]The Next Day...[/i][/h2][/center]
Markus yawns and stretches as he exits the alleyway in which he was sleeping, the sun beginning to rise over New Ancora, casting a bright, almost angelic light over the city. The Outsider always found the sun so enjoyable to wake up to within New Ancora - unlike in times past where it meant he would be waking up to fight for survival, he was now waking up to a mysterious journey; a journey he could cherish. A journey he anticipated. 

A journey... he needed...

Taking a gulp of refreshing fresh air, Markus began walking to the ground-based checkpoints that connected the Districts. He would've taken one of the various super highways, however that would be almost like cheating! Markus wanted to experience the world for himself - he wanted to see all that New Ancora had to offer, and the only way to do that was to travel to each individual district on foot. There was a sense of purpose to his walk; he strode alongside other early-risers of District 17 as he made his way towards the ground-based checkpoint. 

"Almost there...! Hahaaaaaa! Yeah, baby! First milestone!" The energetic man child caught the eye of a few local passerby's, however they didn't interrupt his movements. Most smiled and waved at the fellow as he excitedly passed them by. Even something as little as a greeting, Markus knew, was enough to put a smile to peoples' faces. His excitement seemed to flow into the souls of others as he greeted people with kindness -- kindness said people may not have felt for quite some time -- as he found himself on the home stretch to the next level. However...

"Old Hobo!"

Markus turned to see three familiar faces - kids which he had told stories to when he was visiting the hospital for the less fortunate. He immediately brimmed a wide smile as the trio of youth approached, the three of them panting hard as they arrived before him. "S'up, little dudes! How's it goin'?" He asks, crouching down to address the three at eye level. "Came to wish me goodbye?"

"Uh-huh!" The middle of the three nods. The kids looked no older than seven, and all had that innocent childish quality about them. Markus himself couldn't even remember such a time. "We came to say goodbye, but also we came to tell you that you need to come back and visit us, OK?" Markus was flattered by the request. Though he'd only known them a couple days, these kids wanted him back? The Wanderer wasn't used to being wanted by anyone, so he found found himself smiling even brighter when he heard what they wanted.

Nodding, he pats the three on the head. "Don't worry. I plan on coming back. I like this place a lot, after all. I'm gonna miss you li'l turds." He wasn't exactly the best with kids when it came to teaching them what was right and what was wrong, and had already been told off by a parent for using a 'bad word'. But of course, Markus had forgotten that. "And who knows? Maybe I'll have more awesome stories to tell when I get back!"

"Umm... Y-you'll come if m-mommy gets sick again, r-right...?" Asks the youngest of the trio and the only girl. Markus simply chuckles and rests a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry. If your mommy gets sick again, I'll come right back and help 'er out, m'kay?"

The young girl's eyes widen, as though in shock, with tears of joy welling within the precious orbs. "Th-thank you...!" She squeaks, barely able to speak. Markus couldn't contain his nerves as he scratched the back of his head and looked away, his face slightly red. "D-don't worry 'bout it!" He says, turning back to face the three as he stood once more, turning away from them. "Just get your parents to gimme a call if something goes bad, alright? They were nice enough to get me one of these fancy phone lookin' things, so be sure to remind them they can put it to use!"

He spins around as he faces the gate leading to D16, though it wasn't so much of a gate as it was a tube connecting the two districts. With one last farewell, he waves at the trio of youth as he heads into the walkway, headed for District 16...

[i]'Heh. They were tough little things, I'll give 'em that. Take care of your family, little dudes.'[/i] The Wanderer thought as he made his way through the semi-circle walkway, headed directly for District 16. Horizontal escalators made the journey a lot less taxing on the legs, though. [i]'Man, I wonder what District 16 is li- Gah!'[/i]

Headache. Brain. Hurt. Ow...

"The Hell was that...?" The dark-haired homeless man murmurs to himself as he rubs his forehead. "Weird... It's completely gone now... Oh well, probably just a phase." 

However, little did Markus know, this was much more than a simple phase... This was the beginning of everything. This was where his journey to the center would truly begin...