Sorry for the wait on this next chapter, I'm a busy guy. But, I'll give you the chapter!

Chapter 4: Not Alone

Number walked through town with Ruby as he gathered materials for his ship and Ruby kept an eye out for her friend. The two took a stop the park so Number could look at the schematics for the parts he needed while Ruby assisted. Number was really impressed with Ruby's mechanical knowledge since she was able to figure out a good portion of the schematics. "You're really good at this." Number commented as he started to put a few pieces together. "I like to build." Ruby admitted. "And I keep Crescent Rose in top shape, and to do that you need to know how the weapon works."

"It's really impressive, and it's good that I have someone to work with. Gets lonely working all alone."

"You seem like a guy who works alone a lot."

Number chuckled and replied "I never really do work alone. I always have my teammates to work with." Number opened up one of the pouches on his belt and grabbed a photo then handed it to Ruby. She took the picture to see three people standing on top of a large, very ugly creature. The picture only showed the head of the beast, which had no eyes and a small mouth. One wore white robes with a helmet that looked like a strange skull.

The robed one stood to the left of the fallen monster with his weapon at low ready. The second one was sitting on the top of the head with a revolver held pointing straight up. She (clearly a she due to the body shape) was wearing some armor that left very little to the imagination and a long cloak with a hood. The last had to have been number due to the bulky armor and automatic rifle that was pointed straight up in the air. "Shade took the picture after we took down that massive Ogre. That, is my team leader Zer0x-2, he's a Warlock. Then that is Cassandra, the Hunter of the group." Number explained.

"Wow, did you guys have a team name like my team?"

"No, we mainly focused on fighting the enemies of the darkness. That thing we took down was a real pain in the ass, but we managed to bring the abomination down."

Ruby looked at Number in a new light since she always figured him to be a loner when it came to fights. "So what was your role in the team?" Ruby questioned. "I was the heavy hitter and defender." Number answered. "For that mission specifically, I was a defender with my Ward of Dawn. That shield really helped out against Phogath's Void ray."

"Phogath?"

"That was what the Ogre's name was, Phogath the Untamed."

Number kindly took the picture back and put it back into the pouch. "So, what can you tell me about your friend that you really want me to meet?" Number questioned as he started packing his materials up. "Well, she's kinda like you." Ruby answered.

"Like me? What do you mean?"

"Well… she's- right over there."

Number turned around to see a girl about Ruby's age walking along the fence between the park and the sidewalk. "Penny!" Ruby called as she jumped from her seat. The red headed girl turned and produced a wide smile as she replied "Ruby! My friend!" Number packed his stuff up and hurried over to Ruby who was chatting with her friend, Penny. Number caught up to Ruby as she questioned "How've you been Penny?"

Penny responded "I have been doing very well. What about you?"

"I'm good. I have a friend for you to meet."

Ruby gestured to Number, who looked at Ruby with a confused look although all the other two saw was a blank face plate. "This is where you introduce yourself." Ruby whispered to Number. "Right, I'm Number." Number replied and then introduced as he held out his hand. Penny smiled and shook Number's hand, introducing "My name is Penny. Why is your name Number?"

"It's easier than giving people my unit designation… and I prefer it that way."

"Unit designation?"

"Yeah, I'm an EXO. Robotic warrior of Earth and the Vanguard of the Light."

Number looked to Ruby and questioned "So this is the one you wanted me to meet?" Ruby nodded and replied "Yep. You and Penny are almost one in the same." Number reached up and unlatched his helmet, removing it and revealing his true nature to Penny. Penny looked shocked for a moment, then a wide smile spread across her face as she exclaimed "You're a machine." Number corrected "EXO, I'm a little more advanced than a machine."

"Can you produce an aura like me?"

"In a sense I can. I'm a Titan Guardian, capable of wielding the Light to generate the Fist of Havoc and Ward of Dawn. Are you a machine?"

Penny straightened up and proclaimed with a sense of pride "I'm the first synthetic human capable of creating an aura." Number chuckled "Looks like this world is on its way to creating its own EXOs. So what are you up to Penny?"

"I'm just enjoying town. What about you?"

"Just looking for some parts to repair my ship with a little help. Mind if I join you? It's nice to meet another person like me."

"Not at all!"

Number hopped over the fence (bending it a little) and kept his helmet off. "I'll see you later Number. It was nice seeing you again Penny!" Ruby proclaimed as she stayed on her side of the fence. She turned and started walking away, leaving Number alone with his new friend. Penny looked to Number and questioned "So what do you want to do? We could grab something to eat… do you eat?" Number shook his head and replied "No. I kinda have a recharge system, but I really don't count that as eating. Do you eat?"

"I do. My father gave me a nutrient filtration system that powers my energy core, kinda like a human stomach."

The two began walking as they talked about how each other's systems operated. "So what is Earth like?" Penny questioned as they walked. "Most of it is a war zone at this point. There is only one city remaining, Last City. That's where I live." Number answered.

"This Darkness sounds scary, and very dangerous."

"It is, but someone has to stand up to the Darkness and that's what Guardians do. Kinda like how huntsman and huntresses stand up to the forces of Grimm."

Penny nudged him with her shoulder and exclaimed "That's really cool. How you stand against a massive enemy even though your back is against the wall." Number felt a sense of pride swell in his chest cavity as he replied "Yeah, I guess it is. What about you? Are you becoming a huntress?"

"Oh most definitely! Father really wants me to become a huntress so I can save the world!"

"With that kind of attitude, you should see if you have what it takes to become a Guardian. That kind of pep could really help out around the Tower."

The two walked and talked a little bit more when Number heard someone shout "Freak!" Number looked across the street and saw three young men gathered around a small girl. She tried to stand up but one pushed her down as the others laughed at the fall. Number felt his fist tighten as he growled "That is not happening anymore." Number put his helmet back on and crossed the street with Penny right behind him.

"Hey!" Number barked as he crossed the middle of the street. Two of the guys looked at him while the other was busy tormenting the little girl. "Get lost giant." One commented. "Yeah, you got no reason to be here." The other added. Number continued his walk and exclaimed "If any of you are around the girl when I get there, all three of you will be sorry."

"Guardian." Shade proclaimed inside Number's helmet. "I wouldn't recommended using deadly force on these three." Number made it to the group and the three were still there, how unfortunate for them. One stepped up and held his arms out, questioning "Do we have a problem?" Number didn't answer, instead he delivered a shot straight to the punk's gut, dropping him to his knees. The other one turned and charged Number, but ended up slamming into Number's chest as if he were a brick wall.

Number dropped an elbow on him, sending him to the concrete but not with enough force to kill him. The last one looked panicked as Number stood up to him chest to chest, lowering his head and growling "Boo." The last kid took off with his friends on his heels, forcing a chuckle out of Number as Penny knelt to help the small girl. Number knelt down to see a small pair of ears sticking out of her tan hair. "Faunus." Number quietly exclaimed.

The small girl started to get a hold of herself as Number put his hand on the top of her head. The little girl looked up at him with teary brown eyes as Number exclaimed "It's okay little one. I'm here to help." The little Faunus teared up a bit and threw her arms around Number's neck, quietly crying "Thank you mister." Number slowly wrapped his arms around the little Faunus to comfort her, seeing Penny with a large smile across her face. The little Faunus stopped crying and Number asked "Where are your parents?"

"I… I don't know. I was walking with my mommy and we got separated."

"Well, come on. Let's go find your mommy."

Number stood up and held his hand out to the girl, who took his hand like she was reaching for the sky itself. The little girl couldn't have been more than five years old and she was being picked on for being a Faunus. "What kind of Faunus are you?" Number questioned as they walked through town.

"I'm a bear Faunus. Are you a Faunus?"

"No, I'm not a Faunus."

"Well, then you're Human?"

"Nope, not Human either."

"Then what are you?"

Number didn't answer since they arrived at their destination; the police station. Penny opened the door and Number led the little bear Faunus through the door and up to the front desk. "Excuse me, I'd like to report a lost child." Number stated. The officer behind the desk looked down and smiled, exclaiming "Hello there little one. Do you have your parent's phone number?" The little girl retreated behind Number's leg, causing him to chuckle a bit.

"It's okay, the officer is here to help." Number stated, urging the girl to come out a bit. She reached into a pocket in her pants and pulled out a slip of paper, Number taking it and handing it to the officer. "Now what's your name?" The officer questioned as she picked up the phone. "Alicia. Alicia Molkolov." She answered.

"Okay Alicia, just wait here and we'll have your parents come and get you."

The officer looked to Number and Penny and exclaimed "Thank you for bringing her here. We'll make sure her parents come and get her." Penny looked to Number as he responded "If it's all the same to you, officer. I would rather stay here and make sure Alicia gets home." The officer shrugged and replied "Be my guest." Number took Alicia's hand and the three of them walked to the bench. Shade materialized and helped entertain Alicia.

By 'entertain', Shade floated around the room while Alicia tried to catch him. Number and Penny watched the Ghost and the Faunus play with smiles on their faces. "It's really sweet that you not only helped Alicia, but you want to make sure she's safe." Penny commented. Number shrugged and replied "I can't help it, it's my basic programing to help those in need."

"It's still sweet."

They waited for a bit until a woman walked into the police station with red eyes and tears running down her face. She turned and cheered "Alicia!" The little girl ran to the woman and cried "Mommy!" The two embraced, warming Number's power core at the sight. Shade floated over to Number and exclaimed "This is why we do what we do, isn't it?" Number nodded and replied "Yeah, seeing the joy on the faces of those we help… that is why we do this."

The woman picked up her child and walked over to Number as he stood up. "Thank you." She cried. "Thank you so much." Number nodded and replied "My pleasure ma'am. Hey Alicia, do you still want to know what I am?" Alicia nodded with a smile sticking out through the tears. Number answered as he undid the latches on his helmet "I'm a robot." He removed his helmet and Alicia's mother took in a sharp gasp as Alicia's eyes lit up. "You're a robot! What do you do for a living!?" Alicia cheered as she reached out to touch Number's face.

"I'm a Guardian. Be good for you mother Alicia."

Number patted Alicia's head and exclaimed "Come on Penny. I should probably be getting back to Beacon." Penny nodded and the two walked out of the police station, hearing Alicia announce "Mommy! I want to be a Guardian!" Number and Penny walked to the airship pick-up point for him and waited. They sat for a bit in silence until Number proclaimed "Today was a really great day. I got meet someone like me and we got to help reunite a mother and child. Great day." Penny nodded and exclaimed "It was a really great day. Looks like your ride is here."

Number saw the airship flying in and Penny proclaimed "Thanks for today Number. We really should do it again." She stood up and kissed Number's cheek plate before leaving. Number knew he had a happy expression on as he stood up and boarded the airship. Sure, he knew he was going to receive hell for walking around without someone watching him, but frankly, he didn't care.

A/N: Good news everyone! I've found more time to work on my writing so updates shouldn't be so spaced out! PM or review any thoughts comments or complaints about the chapter. 'Til next update!

-Chief