A/N: Thanks for reviewing Rosebud. I'm not going to answer any of your questions except two: this is not in an alternate universe and it's a KxOC with a later character thrown in for comedy and emotion counseling.

Searching

Erica slowly stirred, opening her eyes to darkness some time later. Apparently the computers' functions had ceased operating after the death of its power source, so the lights were no longer working. Her head felt light as she struggled to comprehend where she was and what had happened. Then the horrible truth hit her.

The angel was dead, and once more she had been left alone.

Unsteadily rising to her feet she looked around for the exit. Finally, after her eyes had become accustomed to the almost impenetrable dark, she found the door she had walked through. Thankfully it had not shut behind her or she would have had to pry it open.

Walking swiftly through the now foreboding halls with only the sound of her feet hitting the cold floor, she found the door leading outside. Unfortunately, the large slab was still closed so she was forced to go back and find something to use as a lever. Finding a piece of metal about three feet long, she jammed the bar into the space between the door and wall. Gripping the heavy piece, she prepared for a long, hard battle with the metal

Pushing with all her strength, she was surprised to feel the door give way easily. Light shone through a gap large enough for her to squeeze into and escape out to the desert.

"Wow, I'm stronger than I thought" she spoke aloud in an attempt to comfort herself. However, the echoing of the empty halls only added to her fear and she hastily made her way outside.

As Erica scrambled onto the sand and looked around herself, she realized she'd had no food nor water in the past few hours. However, for some reason she felt no hunger nor thirst, merely a shifting in her body as if her muscles were twitching. She also had no idea in which direction to go. However, something in the back of her mind told her to go west, that what she was looking for would be found there. Shrugging her shoulders and looking at the suns for directions, she started walking slowly away from the mysterious compound and the few memories within it.

Four days later found Erica still wearily traveling west, though now a bad was held on her shoulder. She had managed to run into several small towns after walking another day after meeting the angel and had managed to earn a little money doing odd jobs. Using the money to buy supplies she had gone on her way, still no clue as to why her mind was telling her to head west. Her only motivation was that something important was awaiting her there.

However, at the last town she had heard a possible hint as to what was to come. From some locals talking around the local tavern, she had learned about a stranger. Apparently a man had come through town recently, only a few days before her, and his demeanor had attracted quite a bit of attention. He'd stopped for supplies and fuel for his vehicle, all without so much as a word to anyone and avoiding all physical contact with the inhabitants. Then he had taken off as quickly as he could, having paid all his bills in cash. Everyone admitted there was nothing physically unusual about the stranger, but this one had an air about him which none of them had liked. His eyes had a look of malevolence in them, and he had stared at everyone with a look of contempt and disgust.

Erica inquired further from the townspeople, as her curiosity was peaked, but could not find out any more about the stranger. Though coincidentally, she did learn that the man had traveled west out of town, the way her search had been taking her. Silently Erica hoped this stranger had some information on who, or what, she was looking for, as the money she had earned and the supplies she had gained was running low. With more energy in her step she left the town and re-entered the large desert, toward the west and after the stranger.

A week after the incident with the angel, Erica had been trudging along the sand when she suddenly spotted a strange formation ahead. With a sigh of relief she quickened her steps in hope, her feet flying over the sand and her eyes not watching where she was going

And nearly caused a disaster.

With a short squeak and a flailing of arms Erica skidded to a halt at the brink of a precipice. She had nearly fallen head long into a huge crater, the sides steep and rocks scattered along the sand. However, her heavy breathing was caught in her throat as she beheld what the hole held. There, situated in the very center, sat a large complex composed entirely of metal. The main portion of the structure was a large dome shaped area with the curve nearly reaching over the crater. Several smaller portions, all rectangular in shape, lay sprawled out around the dome.

Taking a closer look at the walls, there appeared to be an entrance of some sort directly below her. Erica searched around for a way to climb down to the building, but she could find none. Instead, she opted for the slip and slide method, which involved losing her balance half-way down and sliding the rest of the way on her stomach. Reaching the bottom in a cloud of dust, she carefully stood, after making sure there were no broken bones and such, and carefully approached the entrance.

When Erica reached the metal rectangle, she noticed that the door was similar to the one on the ship meaning there was yet again no knob nor handle. However, what she did see was a pad with the design of a hand imprinted on the smooth surface. Slowly lifting her own hand, she placed it on the pad and watched with no small amount of fear as a single green line moved up and down the pad. Then an unemotional voice sounded out "Access Accepted. You may enter."

Erica jumped back as the door slid open to reveal a long passage that stretched out of sight. Peering curiously into the hall, she took a deep breath and walked several steps into the strange building. Seeing as nothing happened, she began slowly strolling down the hall, wondering what she was getting herself into.