"Day eighteen. According to my watch we are still at sea going through the barrier as Alex and Konata keep insisting it is. The ten of us seem to be doing well though Mercury seems to not like being cooped up so much," Blake writes in a journal.

"Don't forget, we all keep watch in some way," Alex says, smirking slightly to her.

"Why aren't you at the controls?" Blake asks.

"No need. Attention all hands, we are about to exit the barrier. I repeat, we will be nearing land soon," Alex says over the intercom.

"That close, huh?" Ruby asks as everyone gets onto the front deck.

"Yeah," Alex says.

Ruby shakes her head as they watch as the Lightning kept hitting them before it suddenly stops and they started to pass the dark clouds above. "That quick," Weiss says as they watch it stay behind them.

"Welcome to the home continent of our home, Mira," Alex says as the barrier started to fade and they started to be able to see what was ahead instead of seeing through many colors they had been doing for weeks now.

A mountainous and hilly region started to come into view that is certainly quite larger than any place back in their home area as multiple colored plants lined the coast and the land beyond. While a small building seems to be on the edge, made of metal and concentrate with an old crane nearby on the edge as the boat starts to pull up to the old dock. Seeing that the building is actually a warehouse and just a few empty run down crates, telling them this place hasn't been touched at all for a long time as plant life grows all over it and breaks the walls and glass around it.

"I don't believe my eyes," Weiss says.

"Then don't," Alex says grabbing some rope to tie off the boat as it slowly comes to a stop at the dock and he throws and ties the rope off.

"So…um…our maps are only twenty percent of this world?" Blake asks.

"Yes," Alex informs.

Konata giggles as she jumps onto land and stretches. "You mortals, such idiots and so living in a bubble."

"Not as much as you think. They are already trying to leave the planet," Alex says surprising Konata.

Konata zooms over and gets in his face grinning. "Space travel already?" she asks excited.

"Yeah, but they keep trying to power it with the dust element from the planet," Alex informs.

"I see. It will never work the element is too tied to the planet for that. The further from the planet, the more it loses power," Konata says.

"Wait, what?!" Weiss calls shocked as everyone listens in.

"You didn't know?" Konata asks smirking to her.

"They don't know about a lot of things. Living in a bubble does that to you," Alex says getting off the boat and stretching on the land. "Alice, get the food and supplies. Still a long walk."

"We are down to half," Alice informs.

"Then there better be good food on our journey," Alex says before turning to the three grouped behind everyone. "Thanks for making our journey harder. Perky breasts, I expected you to eat less with that figure of yours."

"Come on Alex. No use in complaining about it now," Konata says.

Alex rolls his eyes. "Makes me feel better. Now come on. Everyone off before you get sea sickness."

Everyone started to disembark from the boat and look around for anything useful, although Alex kept watching outwards for anything instead of salvaging.

"Alex?" Ruby asks quietly as she walks up to him.

"Yes?" Alex asks.

Ruby looks to where he is looking. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just taking it all in," Alex informs before pulling her close and hugs her.

Ruby blinks and looks to him. "Alex?"

Alex just smiles as he holds her close and hums happily.

Ruby sighs and smiles and hugs him back. "I'm here Alex."

"I know and I am happy for it," Alex says.

Ruby giggles quietly and keeps hugging him.

"Tell me you think. You are ready for this place as there are no grimm failures here, but the wildlife can be far worse." Alex informs.

Ruby giggles. "Excited actually. This is kind of cool."

"You're not wondering what all of this means?" Alex asks.

"New world?" Ruby says rolling her eyes.

"The same world, only more to explore and new dangers," Alex says.

Ruby hums. "Expected. So…where do we start?"

"We head for our headquarters," Alex informs.

"And where and how long will that take?" Ruby asks as everyone grab their bags.

"Not nearly as long as the boat trip. Konata, we ready to head for HQ?" Alex asks.

"All set!" Konata cheers as she holds up two bags.

"I am interested in what you keep calling HQ," Cinder says.

'Could it be the birthplace of grimm?' Emerald thinks.

Alex leans over and smirks. "You want an empire, don't you perky breasts?"

"What makes you say that?" Cinder asks.

"Konata, you see them before they moved?" Alex suddenly asks.

"Oh yeah. They noticed our place here," Konata says watching from a pillar.

"Let's hope we don't run into a tyrant on the way to HQ," Alex says before starting to walk.

"Tywhat?" Mercury asks as they all follow.

"A creature with a unique mutation or far stronger than they should be," Konata informs.

"Ah…we're in a bit of trouble…aren't we?" Mercury asks frowning.

"They depends. Some aren't much more trouble than normal ones. Others…well, they kept us out of entire areas," Konata informs.

"And the most trouble?" Cinder asks.

"Yeah, also a tyrant steps outside the usual food chain at times," Konata says as they follow Alex who leads them across a plain where they see creatures like they never seen before.

"These are…strange," Blake says.

"They are all indigenous to this planet as well," Alex says as they see a giant creature like a dinosaur going for a drink.

"Amazing," Weiss says as they pass by the large creature who doesn't seem to bother noticing them.

"Take it all in. Just watch for the hostile ones," Alex says as Mercury took a picture of the giant.

"Don't worry. We will," Cinder says watching him as well.

"There it is. It is good to see the old base once more," Konata says as they see a huge metal structure not far away.

"That's…big," Yang says as the rounded structure seems to span over a few miles long and over a mile high.

"Has to be," Alex says before stopping.

"Seems they choose now to ambush us," Konata says baring her teeth.

Alice slowly takes out her sword as three large quadruped creatures that seems to be armored on top with hard plates and soft plates on its side and belly while having a sharp long tail jumps over a nearby cliff and starts to surround them and roar and howl like a beowolf.

"Great. Grexes," Alex says before letting cautious take over and, to their surprise, uses his aura to create a scythe like Ruby's.

"That's my…" Ruby starts as they take their own weapons out.

"Talk about it later. Right now, kill these three," Alex says as Konata jumps off.

The three grexes growl and tries to slash at them but everyone jumps away and to the side, shooting and slicing at their sides and backs as the grexes try to turn and hit them all.

"Let's see," Alex says, skidding to a stop as what looked like the pack leader, singled out by some red markings running along the top of its head and scares all around its face and was moving towards him. "First kill of your kind in how long?" Alex asks sarcastically before shooting forward with his incredible speed, dodging a swipe from the claw before using the scythe as a spear with the blade pointing straight up to stab through its throat before slashing it forward, ripping it open and spraying it's purple blood everywhere.

The grex growls weakly and falls dead in a pool of its own blood as Alex flicks the blood off and turns to see the other two being hammered by gunfire and strikes on its hide as everyone kept moving around it. Alex smiles as he watches Konata and Alice kept their distance and takes small strokes up close now and then. The three trouble makers keeping away and firing long range. The girls all moving about and takes the strikes up close as they take turns firing. Alex chuckles and grins as he walks up and watches Ruby uses her semblance and rushes up to one of the grexes' face before it quickly swiped her away in a panic and towards him. Alex goes wide-eyed and drops his scythe before catching Ruby and sends them skidding.

"Ow. You okay?" Alex groans as he sits up with Ruby in his arms.

"I'm alright, but they hit like a truck," Ruby says before seeing one already dead.

Alex sighs as he takes a quick glance at her. "Good. Now if you'll excuse me. I'll take the vengeance for you my lady," he says smirking to her before taking off and grabs Ruby's scythe and uses her semblance and rushes up to the side of the last grexes and slashes and stabs at its hide, making it roar and tries to slash at him. But before it could connect, it's entire arm went flying and it's purple blood starts spraying everywhere.

"Got him sir," Alice says staying behind it on its side.

Konata giggles mischievously as she moves under the neck and grabs it with her hands before sliding her nails across it and cuts its neck open, leaking blood all around, and then runs off under it. "Done!"

"Still one left," Alex says as the last remaining grex was giving Cinder and her team a hard time.

"I got it," Alice says running towards it as the grex is turned towards Cinder and her team before jumping onto its back and slashes at its hide and gaps in the plates before seeing a wide enough gap and brings up her sword before stabbing through it. The grex stops in place before dropping dead as Alice pulls her sword out and cleans it off as she jumps off. "Done."

"Grew are a more common encounter around when we were here last so it's no surprise we ran into some," Alex informs as they look over the dead creatures.

"So…any big problems from this?" Yang asks as she kicks at one.

"No, but I bet that the kingdoms would love to get their hands on the hide. Think about how strong they were and what it took to bring them down," Alex says.

"That's a scary thought," Ruby says thinking about how one kingdom can overthrow everyone with just a hundreds of these.

"Well maybe not Vacou as their industrial stuff isn't the best. In fact, I would say they are lagging behind the others the most," Alex says.

"That's…heavily true," Weiss says before turning to the structure behind them that they now notice is sitting on hard crystals. "So…how do we get in?"

"Just follow me," Alex says starting to lead them to it again.

Ruby snatches her scythe back from him that he didn't notice he was still carrying. "I'm guessing you got your vengeance?"

"Vengeance?" Alex asks.

Ruby hits his side. "You said vengeance for me."

"Oh yeah," Alex says smiling to her.

Ruby smiles. "So…you got it?"

"No one touches Ruby like that," Alex whispers into her ear.

Ruby blushes a bit at that. "That's…good to know," she whispers nervously.

The group made their way to the metal wall before stopping as turrets and large cannons started activating and pointing at them before an automated voice spoke. "This is a restricted zone. Vacate the premise or you will be fired upon."

"Please tell me you got a code for this!" Weiss whispers harshly.

"Identification code: FJWXAMB-057," Alex calls out, followed by Konata.

"Identification code: KXMEOPWV-746," Konata calls out.

"Identification codes found. Scanning now," the automated voice says as a blue light passes over them in a line.

"Alex…?" Ruby asks worriedly as they stay still.

"Identity confirmed. Command available, open gate or lower maintenance elevator…error. Gate unable to open. Requires maintenance," the voice says.

"Lower maintenance elevator," Alex instructs.

"Command accepted," the voice says as they see an elevator descending on the metal scaffolding.

"I'm guessing no one's alive here?" Cinder asks raising an eyebrow.

"No. We abandoned it when we all migrated to the place you are all from and left the automated security online for anything like the grex that come close. The reason it didn't open fire immediately is because it detected we were humans," Konata informs.

"How old are you?" Blake asks, looking at her small stature.

"Don't know. Was in cryo and don't know how much time has passed," Konata informs as the elevator reaches the platform above their head before Alex started to head up the ramp to the platform.

"Well…that's encouraging," Yang says as they follow him and get onto the platform.

"Let's head up," Alex says pushing a button and the elevator start moving back up.

"So…what happened exactly here? Like how is this place?" Blake asks.

"Here?" Alex asks as they reached the top and Alex got out and starts getting off the elevator and onto the platform with Konata.

"Yeah. It doesn't look like it's running at all around here besides this and those turrets," Blake explains as they follow.

"All power was turned off except to the defences at the gates," Konata explains as the followed Alex as he lead them through a metal tunnel now.

"And what was here? Like a city?" Emerald asks.

"Welcome all to New Los Angeles. Welcome to our home, NLA," Alex says as they reach the end and he goes to the railing and rests against it as he looks out onto what was below.

They all stop at the sight as Konata jumps onto Alex's back to get a better look on the many skyscrapers made of rounded metal while it is built on platforms that are on stands that are in the water as smaller areas down on the platforms themselves are overgrown with grass and plants, some even growing into the buildings. Littered through the road looking sections in the middle of each platform is vehicles that seem wheel based and not a hover system like back home. All old with paint stripped away from the timely weather and tries flattened, making them unusable unless fixed as birds fly around the area. Moss growing everywhere as the water seems to have reached some platforms and flooded them.

"Wow…this was here?" Weiss asks, looking to Alex.

"This is our home. Konata, you were with the engineers, right?" Alex asks.

Konata giggles as she messes with her long sleeves in the wind. "Yeah. I remember a bit of stuff. Can't get this whole place running, but I can get the essentials for an area and a building up and at em'."

"Could you get the power up and set the automated stuff to get to work cleaning it up and starting maintenance?" Alex asks.

Konata hums. "Incentives," she sings grinning.

"How about getting to see our apartments?" Alex asks.

"Done!" Konata says before sighing. "Just need to find the damn things."

"It's at the main headquarters tower over there if memory serves. So we will have to walk the entire way," Alex says.

Konata grins and taps her feet against him. "Onward my lovely steed!" she cheers pointing.

"I hope that the power extends to the elevator on this side of the gate. Oh and this is the industrial district in case you are wondering," Alex says heading to the elevator to the right of them.


After hours of walking and waiting outside the main tower, all eight wanted to go and explore while the two were in the tower.

"How long has it been?" Weiss asks.

"Hours," Blake answers as they walk back to the tower.

"It's starting to get dark," Alice points out before they started noticing it got brighter suddenly.

They watch as the streetlights start to come on around the main building and then the building lights following. "Wonder what else she got working?" Yang asks hopefully as they rush back now before some things started coming out of the building and flying around before robots started coming out of the tower and move past them.

They stop as they watch the robots move down the road and into other buildings. "What was that about?" Ruby asks as they kept watching.

"The custodians are now operational," Alex says emerging with Konata who had some grease covering her face.

Konata grins. "And we won't have to scrub toilets. I hate scrubbing the bathroom."

"It's getting late so we can head to our apartment," Alex says.

"And where is that sir?" Alice asks.

"I am in section four. Not much of a view from there but it makes up for it by being comfortable in the residential district," Alex says confusing them. "Oh right. You don't know what that means here. Well, either way, follow me. I will lead you to it. By the time we get there, the cleaners should have it spotless instead of covered in dust," Alex says.


"Your rooms are down the hall. You can have a little view of the city, but it won't be much. But at least you got something. I'll be here if you need me," Alex explains as they stand in a clean hall as the last of the robots wheel itself out of it and past them while Alex opened a door and looks around.

"Alex?" Ruby asks as everyone else went down the hall to see what rooms they can find as he looks around the spartan like bed with shelves of books on a wall, some random pictures of the surrounding lands hanging from the walls, a large TV sitting opposite of the bed on the wall as a computer terminal sat under the window.

"Yes?" Alex asks.

Ruby carefully looks to him. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine. I am just happy I am home. This is where I call home," Alex says looking out at the industrial district as the robots were working over there.

Ruby looks down a little. "Oh…I see. Well…I hope you sleep well. Night," she says walking off to find her own room.

"Night," Alex says before looking over his room to see it as he left it dark blue with all the furniture where it should be.

"You're a bit of an idiot," Konata says walking into his room and jumps onto the bed.

"Let them take it all in," Alex says waiting to see if Alice comes in.

"No. You just said this is your home. I'm guessing that time with her and her team meant nothing," Konata says getting out of her hoodie to show that she is wearing some short and thin shorts and blouse.

"No. This is everyone's home. This is the original colony on this planet. The years ahead are going to destroy everything they held as truth, even what Grimm are," Alex says, not noticing four were listening in on them.

"Do they feel that? To them, this is just another place of history. Give it time, yes. They will know and understand. But now, you just broke the red one's heart a bit. You better make it up to her because it you made it sound like those child times with her meant nothing," Konata scolds lightly as she looks herself over for any other grime.

"I didn't break her heart. You forget. We can sense negative energy and she didn't put off that," Alex reminds.

"Maybe because she doesn't want you to worry. Try and see from her view at least once," Konata says heading into another doorway and into the bathroom and shuts the door. "Yes! Running water reaches here!"

"Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Blake, are you listening in?" Alex calls.

"I hate it when that happens," Yang mumbles as they come out of hiding and walk inside.

"Sit and let us talk," Alex says as they notice his room was different than the others.

"About?" Blake asks as they take a seat on the bed and chair.

"Are any of you unhappy?" Alex asks.

"I'm fine," Yang says as Blake and Weiss nods before Ruby follows as well and nods after them.

"Surprised at all?" Alex asks.

"A bit. Strange to be here," Weiss says.

Alex looked between the four of them before asking something that made all four of them nearly fall to the four. "So are you seeing anyone?"

"What?!" Yang asks a bit shocked. "What brought this up?"

"Just wondering," Alex informs waiting for them to give a answer.

"No. Seriously, what brought this up?" Weiss asks a bit miffed.

"I was wondering about it for a while," Alex asks.

Blake raises an eyebrow. "Uh huh."

"So are any of you?" Alex asks as it dawns on them he was asking all of them out.

"Um…no…" Ruby speaks up as they all start to blush.

"Would you like to go out with us?" Alex asks.

"Us?" Yang asks confused.

"Yes," Alex asks.

They all look to each other a bit confused and softly embarrassed before Yang grabs them all. "Excuse us," Yang says, quickly pulling them into the hall.

Alex nods and waits patiently.

"Seriously? He just asks us out of the blue?" Yang whispers harshly.

"Actually, he most likely has been thinking about it for a while now. I mean he could have come here with just the other two grimm like him, but he came to us," Ruby says.

"And all that? It was either show us the truth which I am starting to believe or he just got us in a private location. What the fuck?" Blake asks frowning.

"Calm down. Look, Alex is how old and the way he does things may be different from our own, but I think he honestly cares," Weiss says.

"Weiss, we raised him when he changed into a kid. That makes things crazy awkward," Yang argues.

"Can you tell me you don't have feelings for him?" Weiss asks.

Yang stops as she blushes and looks away frowning.

"I think all of us have feelings for him at this point, but if we turn him down flat out, wouldn't that hurt him?" Weiss asks.

They all look to each other at that point before Ruby sighs. "Well…he's home at least. That's a plus. Maybe…he can try to show us around all that."

"I want to know what he meant by this is all of our home," Blake says.

"Same," Yang says.

"I am going to accept," Ruby says.

"Same here," Weiss says.

"What about you two?" Ruby asks.

Blake and Yang look to them before sighing. "Fine."

"Alright. Let's get back in there," Ruby instructs.

Alex smiles as he watches them step back into the room and sees Ruby step forward a little bit. "So…?"

"You best treat us right mister," Ruby instructs.

Alex smiles at her. "I don't ever forget the time we had when I changed into a kid Rubs."

"Good," Ruby says smiling.

Alex chuckles and hugs her. "And…this is sort of a second home. First is with you girls."

"That is right," Weiss says sitting beside him.

Alex grins and wraps an arm around her too. "Come on. Group hug."