Walking down the hall, Kathy's hand tucked under his arm, Buck was relieved she was acting much calmer now. "When you growled at Dr. Huer, what movie was that from?" he asked. "I can't remember."
"Neither do I. But it sounded cool, and it did scare the shit out of them," Kathy replied.
"I think you did the scaring. How did you do that?" Buck asked, eyeing her.
Kathy smiled at him widely to show her fangs and said, "I'm a vampire. Oh, my real name? It's Kokoa Shuzen."
"You're a real vampire?" he asked in surprise.
"Want me to drink your blood to prove it?"
"I'll pass on that, thank you very much," Buck replied quickly.
Waking back to the hangers, Buck saw many security guards in side passages and standing against walls, but not one raised a weapon or even spoke as he and Kathy walked by. They went to Kathy's quarters first and retrieved her heavy looking suitcase. Buck noted a man-sized hole in the floor.
"Digging to China?" he asked.
"No, just into the service tunnels underneath. I had to go out for a while last night," Kathy told him.
"Out on the town?"
"Out to the old Chicago, I found a good flight path out so they won't be able to track us. Once we're clear of the area, we keep it low until we're over the ocean." she told him.
"There's an ID beacon as well as automatic comms on all our ships," Buck reminded her.
"Not any more on this one," Kathy explained, and led him to a fighter that was in the maintenance bay, awaiting it's turn to be worked on. Guiding him to the fighter, she said, "Get in, I'll push us out."
Someone had gotten the word to stay clear of them, for people watched but no one interfered as Kathy pushed the fighter out into the hanger, then out to the launch way at a walking speed. Buck turned the controls on. He noticed some wires hanging down and the visual comms unit looked like someone punched it completely out.
Kathy appeared by the cockpit. "Buck! Set the brakes, begin engine warm up, and get in back. I'll fly us out of here. I have better reflexes than you do."
"Just don't splatter me on the ground or anything else, OK?" he asked.
"You're safe with me," she said, and disappeared again.
Buck let out a huff, but did as she asked. "Why doesn't that give me a warm fuzzy?" he asked himself.
He heard a thunderous crash behind them, then Kathy, rather, Kokoa, jumped into the pilot's seat, closed the canopy and thrust the engines to max. She got her seat belt on as they rocketed down the runway. At the end, instead of pulling up, she flew over the end then banked hard right, directly at the crumbling city of old Chicago.
"What are you doing!" he cried.
"Staying below cover!" Kokoa shot back and dove down a street only 30 feet off the ground and approaching mach 1. Behind them debris flew in their wake.
"No wonder they pulled your pilot's license!" he cried.
"Just hang on back there!"
.
Wilma had run out of Huer's office to grab a fighter and follow them. She got a fighter ready for takeoff, then heard a loud crash. The front of the hanger had come down, blocking the runway. Beyond, Buck's fighter shot down the runway and off to the side very near ground level.
"DAMN IT!" she yelled. "Get that debris cleared off the runway!"
In Huer's office, Dr. Theoplois reported. "Buck's fighter is out. We have no tracking or comms from it, and it is not being picked up on radar."
"They crashed?" Dr. Huer asked.
"Highly doubtful," Dr' Theopolis stated. "From what I know of Kathy Chang, she pre-plans with the accuracy of a computer. If her plan was to escape and not being detected, she has performed it flawlessly. The hanger has suffered damage that has made launching anything else impossible for at least fifteen minutes. It takes less time than that to make orbit. Even if we know she is headed for Japan, there will be no way we can get anything in the air in time to intercept her. By the time we can even detect her from ground clutter, she will be over the pacific. Kamakura has nothing fast enough to get in the air and intercept them either. Only atmospheric planes are based there. Another thing to consider is that she did say she was going to let Captain Rogers go once she reached her destination. That leads me to compute our best option is to let her go where she wants and not risk further injury or material destruction."
Dr. Huer nodded, "Have Buck tell us where he left her off when he gets back," he agreed.
"By the time he gets back, I am positive she will have moved to another location," Dr. Theopolis stated.
.
After threading her way through the Rockies staying below the peaks, they passed over the coast and were now racing across the pacific ocean. Flying across the top of the water now a more comfortable 200 feet below, Buck felt it wouldn't be lethal to distract her. "So, Kokoa, you know where your sister is?"
"I know where their castle is, and that they decided to take a long sleep before the world went crazy. I was sure they would wake up, so for a while, I didn't bother going to find her. Once I realized a couple hundred years went by and there was still no word, your 'new' system of government was saving the survivors, or so they called it. All your genius 'computer controlled world has done, is make if very hard for those outside your pristine city walls to survive," Kokoa said with distaste. "The glaciers formed and have covered the land, so I am worried they are trapped. Starving to death is a very long and agonizing way to go for us."
"Mind if I ask what you did when disaster struck?" Buck asked.
"I was busy saving as many as I could," Kokoa stated. "Tunnels, caves, a secret underground military base. It's not prime conditions, and there is no prettiness like you people have, but they are alive, and by so few cities now, I dare say we have saved more humans that you have with your : Let's give up and let computers control things' plan."
"Yeah, I'm not happy about it either," Buck agreed. "There are plenty of what they call, lost souls, out in old Chicago. The computers say there is no room for them, so the people like Dr. Huer choose to leave those people out in the cold."
"And humans say WE are the evil, uncaring ones," Kokoa said with a snort.
"Why, because you saved humans for your food supply?" Buck asked, biting back.
"That is a reason, but unless you're as brainless as the dome-dwellers, you'd know that once a race is reduced to a certain level, they are in very great danger of becoming extinct," Koka stated. "You do know about the food chain, don't you? THAT is what makes upper forms of life able to go on. One thing eats another, that eats another. Even the highest forms of life end up feeding the lowest forms when they die. Right now, that food chain is very vulnerable to collapse. The food chain collapses, everyone loses! And for your information, dummy, we don't kill people when we feed. That's Hollywood shit! OK, the guy I fed off of back in New Chicago will be wobbly for a while, but he lived, didn't he? I won't need any more blood for a week or so, and he will be fully recovered long before that."
"You fed on him?"
"Yeah, I was hungry. We had a good time, I took a few sips. He's happy, I'm happy, we're both satisfied. What's the problem?" Kokoa asked, flailing an arm up.
Buck laughed. "If it's like that, no problem," he admitted. Seeing the blackness around him he asked, "Isn't a risk, flying this low with no radar at night?"
"I can see fine. Remember, I'm a vampire. I don't have poor eyes like you do."
Kokoa lifted up a hundred feet and lights whizzed by below them. "A surviving ship," she explained. "There's still a few of them around."
"I bet they felt that," Buck noted.
"Yeah, maybe got wet and knocked around a bit too," Kokoa agreed. "Land is coming up, looks like the northern islands. We'll be passing Hokkaido soon."
Buck struggled, but didn't see anything but black outside. He felt them turn and lift. "Hokkaido?" he asked.
"Yup. slowing down, I don't want to overshoot and have to turn around. Remember, your friends are following us."
"You ruined the runway, didn't you?" he asked.
"I just dropped enough hanger roof to slow them down," Kokoa told him. "You have to know Wilma will be coming after you the second the runway's cleared. If I can set down five minutes before she arrives, I'll be lucky."
"Wilma wouldn't ..." Even as he said that, Buck stopped, he knew she would come to 'rescue' him. "Hope she brings a fuel plane with her. We'll need it."
"Just keep going south to Kamakura, they have refueling and repair facilities there," Kokoa told him.
They slowed down more as they passed over water and back over land. Buck felt them turn, then turn again as they slowed. They also lifted a little higher.
Kokoa began singing.
Ohhh life, it's bigger
It's bigger than you, and you are not me
the lengths that I will go to
the distance in your eyes
Oh no I said too much
I set it up
that's me in the corner
that's me in the spotlight,
I'm loosing my religion
tryin to keep up with you
and I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
Every whisper,
of every waking hour I'm
choosing my confessions
trying to keep an eye on you
like a hurt lost and blinded fool
fool
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up
Consider this
Consider this
the hint of the century
Consider this
the slip
that brought me to my knees
failed!
what if all these fantasies came
flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
...
Kokoa stopped singing as she banked again.
"Did you make up that song?' Buck asked.
"Nope. When I think of the humans struggling here, that song comes to mind. I do everything I can to keep people alive, and by the way they look at me, they don't like me very much," Kokoa told him. "In one of the caverns, I was a bit hungry so a got a sip from a guy. Many people won't come near me now," she finished with a huff.
"Imagine that," Buck grumbled.
"Really! I feel so unappreciated sometimes," Kokoa agreed.
A moment later, Kokoa looked to the left. "Oh how nice! See that point of light down there to our left? About nine o-clock low?" she asked and tipped the fighter.
Buck looked. It took a few seconds but he did see a pinpoint of yellow light briefly. "Campfire?" he guessed.
"Yup, and by the reflection off the walls, It's what's left of Tsukune and Moka's courtyard!" she said happily and flipped to bank to the right. "Now, let's see, vertical landing..."
"On the panel, center. In front of the stick, lower right," Buck said quickly.
"Thanks, got it."
Buck tensed up again as Kokoa turned on the landing lights that showed a mountain face a short distance away. "Don't forget, increase downward thrust as you slow more, keep the engines high RPM."
"Got it, now shut up, I'm busy here!" Kokoa barked back.
As the ground got closer, the fighter slowed and wobbled, slipped to one side then the other. Snow blew up around them in a white cloud, blocking any vision.
"OK, we're...," Kokoa pulled the throttle back to idle. She then spat, "Damn it!" and tried to lower the landing gear. They hit the ground. The grinding halt of an engine that was spinning and burning fuel was not a pretty sound. It lasted briefly before the engine exploded, bouncing them up to land hard again.
The Canopy flew up and off as Kokoa pushed it away. "OUT!" she cried and flung her suitcase out. She grabbed Buck by his collar as he tried to get up and thew him out in the snow, jumping out after him. Buck was face down in the snow when the other engine exploded, then the fuel tanks ripped the fighter apart as they blew up.
Buck got up and ran away from the burning wreck. He met Kokoa near the jagged walls nearby.
Standing with her arms folded over her chest and wearing a frown, Kokoa said, "Sorry, you'll have to wait for Wilma to come get you." She then pointed at the wreck and asked, "Isn't that your little robot?"
Buck looked and stumbling away from the burning remains of the fighter, Tweekie was coming. Falling, getting up and stumbling a little farther ahead in the snow to fall again. Buck ran over to him. Upon trying to help Tweekie walk, he burned his hand on the robot's hot metal skin and jerked back.
Tweekie looked up at Buck and waved his arms as he said, "Beeb beeb beeb, What the FUCK, Buck! Landing with the gear up? Do you need to go back to flight school?"
"Tweekie... how did you get here?" Buck asked, shocked at seeing him.
"Beeb Beeb Beeb, I knew miss hot pants was modifying this plane, and you were suppose to fly it. I climbed into the storage space," Tweekie replied. "Last time I'm riding with you driving."
"I was in the back seat, SHE was flying," Buck said defensively.
Tweekie stopped and tipped his head slightly. "In that case, not bad for a first try, beeb beeb beeb." A secondary explosion tore the cockpit apart. Tweekie looked back then gave Kokoa a thumbs up. "Beeb beeb beeb, any landing you can walk away from is a good one."
Kokoa picked up her suitcase and walked over to the opening that used to be the entry gate. Lacking anything better to do at the moment, Buck and Tweekie followed.
The castle was a wreck. By the light of the fire near the entrance where the main doors used to be, lit the area in a yellow glow. Portions had fallen, the right wall and one tower were nothing by a pile of rubble on the ground. The grand balcony above was now shattered stone chunks all over the courtyard. The castle was still standing, mostly, but it was now ruins from what she could see.
"It's going to be a major project to fix this up," Kokoa said with a tired huff. Beyond the entrance where the Foyer used to be, and now debris and the framing of what was once a grand chandelier lay on the floor, she saw heat sources hiding behind a couple larger piles, and inside the hallways just beyond door frames.
Right, the crash had scared the crap out of the people that were here. In Japanese, she called out, "You're safe, sorry for the noise."
Taking a few more steps in she said, "My fault, but it's over, you can come out."
Buck and Tweekie looked up. "Kokoa, It doesn't look very safe in here," Buck said as he studied the cracks in the ceiling and the collapsed stairway that looked like it was once a grand stairway that followed the curve of the wall. There were holes in the ceiling. Being cracked and holey were not good for ceilings.
"Beeb Beeb Beeb, this place is a dump," Tweekie noted.
"You offering to help repair it?" Kokoa asked him.
"Beeb Beeb beeb, Not me, I'm too short."
A face peeked out from the edge of a doorway on the left. "It's all right," Buck said and motion her out. The face ducked back in.
In a loud voice, Kokoa called out in Japanese, "You are in my sister's house! Come out and be identified!"
A few faces now appeared. An older man on what looked like layered cloaks came out from behind a pile of rubble. "If that is true, then what is the name of the Mistress?" he asked
"Her name is Aono Moka. I am Shuzen Kokoa!" Kokoa announced. "I have come to awaken her and Aono Tsukune, the Lord of this manor."
Several ragged people appeared. They approached Kokoa apprehensively. They bowed to her. The older man said, "Our forefathers told us of the time of the awakening. They did not know when it was, but said we must remain present for it."
Kokoa returned the bow. "Thank you for your service and your loyalty. Please guide me to the stairs down."
The man bowed and grabbed a torch off the wall. Kokoa lit it with a "flammar" and a snap of her fingers. She then lit another one for herself.
Buck could not understand what was being said between Kokoa and the ragged, thin people. He did note the old man walked into a doorway and Kokoa followed. He followed them. "Tweekie, did you understand any of that?" he asked.
"Beeb beeb beeb, these people are servants of Aono. They are leading Kokoa to where her sister and husband are sleeping." Tweekie informed him.
"Sleeping? For how long?" Buck asked.
"Bee Beeb Beeb, for many generations."
"You mean hibernating then," Buck concluded.
Outside, the roar of engines grew, then receded as they flew past.
"Wilma," Buck said, knowing who it probably was. "Tweekie, go meet our rescue party. I have to see what's going on here."
Tweekie turned and walked back outside.
The people who were here all followed Kokoa. Buck followed them down the hall, then down another. It looked like they went into a room, but it was a stairway down. As they got deeper into the castle, he noted the walls and the ceiling looked better. Still old, but not near as many cracks.
The end of the stone stairway down, opened as a 'T' section into another hallway. Down here, Buck noted paintings on the wall. Three foot high Full figures of people. Buck was sure the gold tags on the lower frame with black writing told who these people were, but he could not read the Japanese 'chicken scratches'.
Kokoa led the band to the right. Buck followed them to a section of wall that was bare. She handed her torch to someone else, then snapped her fingers.
The old sconces along the walls lit up with flames. Kokoa scrutinized the blank stone wall in front of her, then placed her hands in the wall, one above the other and pushed. With a grinding sound, The wall in front of her pushed in, beyond, the wall came out. It was a hidden door with a center swing post. By how hard Kokoa was pushing, Buck doubted normal humans had a hope of pushing that door open. When Kokoa got the door open, she snapped her fingers again. Yellow light emanated from the room beyond.
The crowd around Kokoa stayed out of the room as Kokoa strode in. Buck slipped through them to go in and get a look.
It was a gothic style crypt. A wide casket made of dark Teak wood with ornate gold trim and fittings resting upon a granite stand dominated the room. Around the room on the walls head high were candle sconces. All were lit, casting the room in a soft glow and reflecting off the polished gold fittings on the casket.
"Baka Tsukune," Kokoa grumbled as she picked up a pendulum clock off the floor.
By the dust and bits that came off the door when it rumbled open, Buck knew this room had been sealed for a long time. Cautiously, he asked, "Kokoa, are you sure they are still alive in there?"
Kokoa ignored his question She shook her head, looking at the clock. "The timer fell off the wall and stopped counting, no wonder they didn't wake up! My Brother-in-law is a BAKA!" she spat. She set the clock back down on the floor, upright this time. She looked at the casket, then waved Buck over to her. "I need your help."
"Sure, what do you..." Buck stopped talking as she grabbed him and spun him as he fell, catching him to cradle him like she was going to give him a big kiss.
"I feel like a leading lady," Buck said weakly as he stared up into her red eyes.
"Nope! Just a blood bank." Kokoa replied.
Buck saw her mouth open and her fangs appear. The next thing he knew, her lips were on his neck and he felt her fangs sinking in deep. She was hugging him and he swore he felt his blood being sucked out. Kokoa wasn't very big, but her arms around him felt like steel straps, trapping him in place. All he was able to do was kick his feet and gape like a fish as she drank. His struggle weakened, he began to feel light headed. Was she going to drain him and kill him?
Suddenly, he was released and lowered gently to the floor. "Just rest, you'll be fine," Kokoa told him. She then disappeared from his view. He then heard his name being called.
.
"Buck?" Wilma called as she went the way Tweekie had told her Buck went with the others. Blaster and light out in front of her, she led the four guards and medic that had come with her on the shuttle. The co-pilot and the other two guards stayed to protect the ship. She was not happy the fighter had been destroyed in the crash, but Tweekie informed her that he and Buck did get out unhurt. The good part of that was they detected the fireballs when the fighter burned, leading them straight to it.
Coming to the stairway down on the first floor, Wilma called down it. There was light at the bottom of the stairs, showing a hallway going past. No place up here was lit, other than their hand held lights so he must be down the stairs.
Wilma led the way down the stairs. She noticed painting on the walls down here. To the right, a group of ragged people stood, blocking the hallway. She raised her blaster at them. They didn't move so she didn't shoot. "BUCK!" she yelled again.
Buck's voice called back, "Wilma, don't come any closer! Stay where you are."
Wilma strode towards the group of men, women and children in front of her. "Get back!" She warned.
They didn't move, only cast her blank gazes.
"I'm serious, Move!" she snapped walked up to a man to point her blaster at his chest.
.
Buck heard Wilma's demands outside in the hallway. "Wilma! Do NOT come in here!" he called. The casket lid was open, Kokoa was leaning over into it.
"Buck, are you all right in there?" Wilma called.
"Yes! Stay back, I'll be our shortly." he told her loudly. He noticed Kokoa straighten up.
"Come on, sleepy heads," Kokoa said. A man in a dark suit climbed out of the casket. He held his hand out to help a silver haired woman in a white gown exit the casket. They both had red eyes like Kokoa did.
The man looked down at Buck and held his hand out. Buck took it, the man pulled him to his feet.
"These Baka's speak English," Kokoa told him.
The man nodded. He looked at the clock and frowned. "How long?" he asked.
"Your clock broke, it's been 500 years, Baka," Kokoa told him.
The man let out a sigh, then spoke to Buck. "We are the Aonos. I am Tsukune, and my lovely wife here, is Moka. I assume you already know Kokoa."
From the hallway, Wilma's voice growled, "Move out of out way, or I WILL shoot!"
Moka turned to the sound and said, "Excuse me." She walked to the door.
"Wilma, GET BACK!" Buck yelled.
"I'm not leaving without you!" Wilma yelled.
.
Moka came into the hallway. "Servants, move aside!" She demanded.
They parted like water at her command to show Wilma with her blaster.
"Who are you, and why are you in our house?" Moka asked as she stepped towards Wilma.
Wilma swallowed her growing nervousness and said, "Take me to Buck … Now!"
In a flash, Moka had the blaster in her hand as she cast a hard look at Wilma, their faces inches apart. "You need to be shown your place!" she growled.
The next thing Wilma knew, she slammed into the guards behind her, knocking them all down. Landing just beyond them, she stumbled up to see a blur of white and each guard in turn flew over her, then she was tossed to follow them. They landed in a heap at the foot of the stairs.
"LEAVE MY HOME OR YOU WILL SUFFER!" Moka roared.
Her blaster was gone as was her flashlight. Feeling a wave of terror wash over her, Wilma tried to gain her feet and stumbled and fell as the guards under her clambered up the stairs. She finally flailed enough to get her feet under her and race up the stairs after them. Catching a step wrong, she tripped and fell on the stairs. Turning over, she saw the silver haired woman with the red cat's-eye pupils regarding her angrily. She threw her hand up and cried, "I surrender!"
Moka grabbed the front of her clothes and dragged her up the stairs. The only thing Wilma had the presence of mind to do was grip Moka's wrist so her flight suit didn't get ruined.
The men in front of Moka kept backing away towards the entrance as she strode towards them. Tweekie, in the first floor hallway, backed into a doorway to stay clear. Moka saw him and stopped.
"WHAT ARE YOU, LITTLE TIN MAN?" Moka asked in a hard tone.
"Beeb beeb beeb, I'm with Buck, your Majesty," Tweekie said and bowed to her.
Moka grew a crooked grin. "At least you try to be civil and have manners. You may wait until he joins you."
Tweekie bowed again. "Beeb beeb, beeb, thank you, your hindass."
"WHAT WAS THAT?" Moka asked, casting him a glare.
"Royal greeting, as is Your majesty, My Queen, Empress. I do not know which one is appropriate to show proper respect," Tweekie replied.
"Stick with your Majesty," Moka told him.
"Yes, Your Majesty, beeb beeb beeb," Tweekie said with another bow.
Noting this as she was being dragged along by the front of her collar, Wilma tried, "I'm sorry, your Majesty."
"You certainly are," Moka replied. Seeing the front doorway, and the four men eyeing her, Moka flung Wilma at them. They caught the screaming woman as she flew into them. They all tumbled down the few entry steps.
.
Tsukune helped the the man up. "What was your name again?" he asked.
Buck stumbled up with Tsukune's help. "Buck. Buck Rogers. I came to help Kokoa here," he said then cast her a glance, "Though I didn't know I was going to be lunch."
"Thank you for your assistance," Tsukune told him sincerely. "I take it this Wilma out there is your ..."
"Friend," Buck said to explain his relationship.
"Ah, then we should go see what's going on before your friend is seriously hurt," Tsukune told him, and guided him out.
"Tsukune, you need to know what these people are doing, and NOT doing." Kokoa said from Buck's other side. Both men noticed she wasn't trying to help Buck stay upright.
"In time, Kokoa, let's get him out and find out what's going on first." Tsukune replied.
.
With Tsukune taking most of his weight, Buck did manage to keep one foot in front of the other even though he was so dizzy, he thought he might pass out. Coming up to Tweekie on the first floor, the little robot looked up at him.
"Beeb beeb beeb, you don't look so good, Buck."
Buck replied, "Yeah, I've been necking with the wrong person. Come on, Tweekie."
Going to the entrance doorway, Buck noted the silver haired Moka eyeing those in the courtyard , arms folded over her chest, a stern look on her face. She glance at him and Tsukune. He didn't understand what she said to them, but it made Tsukune grin. In the courtyard, Wilma stood leaning on one of the now weaponless guards, her flight suit was torn, her hair disheveled.
Tsukune led him down to the group. "Mr. Rogers will need assistance in moving and will require rest. I am leaving him in your care," he explained and handed Buck over to them. Seeing he had everyone's attention, Tsukune added, "It is very rude to enter someone else's house without their permission. I expect you have learned some manners. We have plenty of work to do, so please make sure you take all of your things with you when you go."
"Beeb beeb beeb, miss hot pants crashed Buck's ship, there is no machinery to pick it up," Tweekie said.
Tsukune looked down at him. "Kokoa ruined it?"
"It's barbecued," Tweekie stated.
"Please, show me," Tsukune replied. Tweekie walked around the group, Tsukune followed.
"Let's go, guys," Buck said and motioned for the guard helping him to stay up to follow.
"It's not my fault," Kokoa said, appearing by Tsukune. He cast her an even look. After a moment, Kokoa shrugged and said, "OK, maybe I forgot one little thing."
.
Standing near the blackened, sprawled out wreckage, Tsukune looked at the scattered debris. He couldn't tell by sight what it used to be.
"We can come back and pick up the pieces," Wilma offered.
Tsukune waved a hand at her. "Our family broke it, so I will repair it."
"I hope you're a magician," Buck said absently.
Tsukune cast him a brief smile. "I learned from the best," he said. He waved his arm and cast the restore spell over the area, focusing on the metal pieces.
The wreckage glowed. The glowing pieces drew together into a glowing mass that shifted it's shape and settled into the shape of a starfighter. the glow faded away to show an intact starfighter sitting on it's landing gear. Buck and Wilma's crew stood staring, mouths dropped open.
"As I said, I learned from the best," Tsukune said proudly. "No one knew more about Magic that Toujo Ruby. She held the secrets of the universe in her hands." In a sad tone, he added, "It was a terrible loss when she died. She is one of the few that I will miss forever."
Seeing their 'guests' were still stunned by what he did, Tsukune said, "Now, if you will excuse me, we have a house that needs some work, and servants that need attention. Have a safe journey home." He walked away from the group and back into the castle.