The Fortress Grounds

Rory appeared back in front of Kal with a slight smile on his face. He took a deep breath and sighed."Ok, I'm back I didn't really find anything but there is a huge complex off in the distance. Although it's one hell of a walk. No I didn't go all the way there I kinda spied the tower way off over yonder. And, uhm, well... I'm not entirely human. I mostly am, just with some upgrades... I volunteered for my own experiment where I'm from. And it made me like this. I can do other things as well. But, there you have. I'm a Cybernetic Knight. Please don't be scared of me..." Rory kinda lowered his head a bit and looked down. He didn't like showing off his abilities unless he had too. And most people were afraid of him, even his own colleagues.

Kal was silent for a moment as she took in what he said. Then she gently placed her hand against his cheek and said quietly, "Rory, I am not afraid of you. I was just shocked. I think you will find that who you are will be more accepted here. I've seen some strange things and I've heard stranger stories." A small smile played across her lips as she moved her hand to rest on his heart.
"Here. You feel don't you? Your heart still beats, whether by machine or flesh, but you still feel. Trust me, you are human. Don't think that yu aren't, even if you only think you are mostly human, you are human."

Rory just looked into her eyes and smiled. He placed his hand over the one she had on his cheek."I... I've just never really been accepted anywhere after I became what I am... I'm not used to it... But... I'm glad I met someone like you. I really am... I..."Rory just stopped talking and put his arms around her and kissed her."Maybe after this is all over... I'll tell you the reason why I've decided to stay."He still wasn't sure if she liked him, but he kind of fell for her. And never really thought things through either which is why he kissed her.

Kal looked at him and said softly "Alright. I'll be sure to hold you to that."

Kal turned to face the others that were still there. "Well, since we are both looking for someone, why don't we go together?"

Ichiru and Luthier overheard, and spoke in unison.

"It's because he doesn't have an aura!!"

"He's a cybernetic knight!? That's so badass!"

Ichiru looked over. "What the hell's that mean?"

"Oh, that's right, you're from the country, so you probably aren't too familiar with Bloodhound Technology. Essentially, he's half man, half machine." Luthier grinned.

Ichiru blinked. "That's insane..."

Luthier grinned. "Dude, he's like Kikujo from Samurai 7! Maybe we can rope 'em in to joining us! Then we'll be like the seven samurai, protecting the peasants from the bandits!"

Ichiru was lost. "I have no idea what you're talking about, and there are only five of us, and two are girls, and none of us are samurai..."

Luthier chuckled. "Ah, it's just an old television show my dad showed me. Nothing to worry about."

Ichiru was, once again, lost. "The hell's a tele- Oy! Big Guy!"

Rory looked at everyone else with a smile on his face. He was acting cold to them earlier because he wasn't sure what the hell a bunch of kids were doing out here. But he keeps forgetting he isn't on his world. And he had experience with terrorists using children."Uhm, big guy? I guess you mean me. My name is Rory."

Ichiru nodded.

"Yeah, you. Maybe we should work together. I'm Ichiru. Feel up to joining our party and helping? We're lookin' for someone too."

Kal threw her hands up in the air and rolled her eyes. Then she looked at them all and just luaghed quietly.

Guess they were to fasinated by Rory to hear me.

Kariti walked up to Kal, touching her arm.
"I think that's a good idea, to travel together."
She glanced over at the men, who were still fascinated by Rory. "Sorry about them. They're boys."
Kariti hoped Kal would understand her joke. Blake had taught her that joke. For a moment, Kariti looked over at Luthier and wondered why she felt so much more comfortable around him. She didn't understand it.

Looking down at the girl Kal smiled, "Yes I understand. And don't worry about it. It's good to know we both have the same ideas."

Kariti turned a little, addressing everyone.
"Where are we going now?"

Rory laughed some and shrugged."Well it seems like that decisions already been made. So yeah, sure, why not. The more the merrier." Rory looked at Kal and smiled then face palmed."Alright so where were you kids heading?"

Luthier shrugged.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. I was going to try and find my dad... But I really don't have any leads. We could go to the school, or the city from here. It wouldn't surprise me for him to be in either place, but then again, if we just keep trekking on, I wouldn't be surprised if he popped up at some point anyways. What do you guys think?"

Ichiru thought for a moment, then raised his hand.

"I, for one, think it's stupid to just chase after the dude blindly. I mean, we might want to go to the city and see if maybe someone's seen him, y'know? And what about the friend you guys were talking about earlier? Should we find... That person?" He was confused, for obvious reasons.

Rory looked at Kal and knew she didn't want to turn around now, not being this close to finding him, but he thought the kids had a point. Information was always good to have."I'll do whatever you like, Kal."

Kal sighed and shook her head. "We have no idea where he could be. No leads. We will have better luck finding him by not looking. for now at least. I'm up for going back to the city to get some information. I doubt the school would really know anything about people's whereabouts anyway."

Rory just nodded and looked back at the kids."Alright then, looks like were all going back to the city then?"

Luthier shrugged and nodded. "I guess so. Ichiru? Kariti?"

Ichiru nodded in agreement. "I don't really see a fault in that reasoning. 'S not like we can chase him all over hell and high water, ya know?"

Kal started to walk toward the forest. "Then I guess we should go. No point in staying here. Nothing to be found anyway."

Ichiru moved towards Kal. He wondered what exactly had happened to these two people that they wanted to find their target.

Luthier looked back towards Kariti, not wanting to abandon her.

Rory just walked along side Kal as they all headed back to the city. Rory started thinking and slightly out loud. He was sort of mumbling under his breath as he spoke. "Well this certainly has been an interesting time so far."

Kal smiled slightly. "I'm sure it has." When she reached the forest edge she stopped and turned, waiting for the others.

Rory chuckled nervously."Oh, I guess I was thinking out loud... But, I'm glad I was ya know, thrown through space and time and landed here. Better then some of the other places I probably could have landed."Rory smiled and just looked into her eyes."This really has been the most interesting adventure I have ever been on in my entire life. I'm still worried about what might have happened to Lukas though. I haven't seen any trace of him anywhere we've been. He might have actually gotten where he was supposed to go. In any case I'm sure he's fine." Rory just smiled and laughed some as he stood there waiting with Kal.

"Where were you supposed to go? And we will look for him anyway as we travel." Kal asked in reply.

"Well we were supposed to go to a city where we're from, and well I ended up here don't know what happened to him."

"I'm sure we'll find him."