Night drew in and the work on the Romero Farm had ended for the day. They had made a lot of headway on the house, so much in fact that most of the work they would have to do from now on would be purely cosmetic. Furniture and suchlike, "luxuries" as Dane would put it. Of course, considering the fact everyone was sitting on bean bags as he, Brody, Levi and Tom sat down for a dinner of noodles, many would have placed a higher priority on it. The "Romero-Westons" as they had laughingly referred to themselves as the work progressed were alright with it. Dane and his kids were used to minimalist furniture anyway, and Tom being a native Texan and "real cowboy" as Brody had put it was an enthusiastic camper and enjoyed roughing it once in a while. The one that was most vocal about it all was the one who had least use for comfort, Redbot, who not only didn't have touch sensors on most of his body, but at present…didn't even have a body.
"Can you at least get me off the floor and put me up somewhere I can see something other than your feet?" Redbot asked.
"You have sensors that can scan for miles, why do you need to see?" Levi teased him.
"It's the principal of the thing! How would you like it if I ripped your head off and teased you about it?" Redbot snapped in response. Brody picked up the head and put it up on the shelf.
"There, is that better?" Brody asked.
"MUCH better!" Redbot answered. He was in his current state since when they cleared out the school to give Principal Hastings her paint room back, the only way anyone could think of to smuggle him out of the school without anyone noticing was to take him apart. They had promised him that they would make suitable accommodation for him in the workshop, but since they hadn't actually built the workshop yet, that meant right now he was stuck. "You need to be a little more considerate like your brother!"
"Wow, you weren't joking, Redbot really does have feelings." Tom commented, slurping down some noodles.
"Yes, exactly, so you might want to be a little bit nicer to him!" Brody reminded Levi. "Redbot's done a lot for us and made some pretty big sacrifices. If we can't rebuild him yet, I think the least we owe him is a little kindness."
"You know I'm only teasing right Redbot?" Levi asked him, slurping some noodles as he turned the page on the diary. Dane waved some chopsticks his way.
"That may be the case, but that still doesn't excuse poor table manners." He said in a stern manner.
"Don't you strictly speaking need a table to have table manners?" Redbot asked. They all looked at him. "I'm just teasing!"
"Good one Redbot!" Dane said with a smile. "But we have company, so if you could…"
"Fine." Levi grumbled, closing over the diary and putting it into his bag. Dane couldn't help watching where he put it.
"Speaking of which, it's getting late." Tom reminded them. "We're going to have to get going soon."
"Unless you both crash here." Brody suggested. "I mean, we have sleeping bags for all of us, right?"
"Brody, I don't think…"
"What do you say Tom?" Levi asked, looking to him. Tom looked around the assembled Romeros. It was something that he was even being invited. They had been nothing but welcoming and had been very nice to him so far, but he wasn't sure exactly where he stood with them. He could see the look on Levi's face, and it reminded him a lot of the boy that would ask to stay in his room when there was a thunderstorm or when they had seen a scary movie on TV a little too close to bedtime. He just threw up his hands.
"Well, I guess it means we could get an early start tomorrow." He commented. "If we start early enough, maybe we can even raise the workshop, that'd be good right Redbot?"
"If it means I finally get the rest of my body back I'm all for it!" Redbot answered.
"Wait, I just thought of something." Tom stated. "Levi came to us and was raised by us as a family, so I'm his brother, right?"
"Yeah?" Dane said, not quite getting where he was going.
"Well, Mick and Redbot looked out for Brody on the ship. Mick brought him up like his own kid." Tom said. "So, in a way, isn't Redbot kind of his brother?"
Brody looked to Redbot and thought about it for a moment before smiling.
"You know what? I guess he kind of was a big brother." Brody said thinking about it. "I remember the way he used to keep the other 'interns' away from me on the ship and made sure I got enough to eat and stood watch over me and Mick while we slept."
"So, what do you say Redbot? Do you feel like becoming a Romero?" Dane asked him.
"I would consider it a great honour!" Redbot squeaked. Tom picked up a mug full of lemonade.
"Well, here's to the Romero-Westons!" Tom said. The others, well, the ones with hands anyway, picked up their cups.
"The Romero-Westons!" They all chorused, clicking their mugs together.
Over in Zandar, the night was wearing on, and everyone was getting a chance to meet each other and share stories and interests. It wasn't the first time they had met other Rangers, they had already met Kendall and Matt briefly when they had fought Hacktrack, but other than that, they were enjoying getting to know each other.
Ivan watched in wonder as Preston performed one of his tricks for him. He was standing only arm's reach from him as he scrunched a handkerchief into his hand.
"Alright, now keep your eye on my hand!" Preston told him. "One…two…THREE!"
He thrust his hands towards Ivan's face, and as he opened his hands, Ivan could see the handkerchief was gone. The others were holding in laughter.
"Truly astounding!" Ivan gasped. "You are a wizard indeed my friend!"
The others were all trying really hard not to laugh, because they could all see how the trick was done by virtue of the dozens of handkerchiefs on the floor behind Ivan! It was a comedic variation on a trick for an audience. As the magician thrust his hands towards the target's face, their natural instinct was to blink, which meant for a fraction of a second, they were blind. This gave the magician the opportunity to keep the momentum going and throw the handkerchief over the target's shoulder behind them! On stage they would generally stand with their back to the audience or use a handkerchief the same colour as the stage dressing if they wanted to do the trick 'seriously', but many magicians liked to play the fact audiences knew the truth about magic for laughs. They would often do the trick in a way so the audience could plainly see how the trick was done, but the target was still none the wiser. It got laughs and was a nice warm-up before performing more impressive tricks. Eventually Chase couldn't take any more.
"Ivan, you might want to turn around mate." He suggested in a deep laugh. Ivan turned around, seeing the handkerchiefs behind him. He turned to Preston and looked far from amused.
"I was led to believe you were a true wizard!" Ivan said bad-temperedly.
"Ivan, don't be such a sour-puss." Erin said soothingly as she came over, beginning to stroke his shoulders. "I'm sure Preston's got much more impressive tricks, he just wants to keep some of them to himself."
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist." Preston stated. "But I promise I do have some proper tricks. I'll do a real show once I've had a chance to rest up."
"Of course, I suppose I wouldn't expect to tilt on the day I arrived at a tourney." Ivan conceded. "I shall let you astound me at another time."
As Ivan went aside with Erin, Preston started to look around and suddenly noticed that Sarah wasn't actually there. It was a little surprising since the Amber Beach team were her old friends. He was expecting her to be there with them. He could see though that everyone was more than occupied with the pre-wedding celebrations and decided to slip out and go looking for Sarah.
That was easier said than done. The castle was a huge place, at one time the home of an entire garrison. While there were less staff now, that didn't mean to say it wasn't still a long way. He decided to cut down his search a little, pulling out the contents of his pockets, looking for something. He had a few things, namely change, gum wrappers and the like, but he finally found something he could use. It wasn't much, in fact to most people it would be nothing, but he found a blown fuse. The only thing that could have used it was Sarah's hoverboard. He pulled out his wand, and circled it over the fuse in his hand.
"Renwo Kees!" He said, at which a pink light floated up from it. The light started to drift away, at which Preston followed it. Sure enough, the fuse had been from Sarah's hoverboard. The seeking spell needed a personal item from the owner to work. He couldn't think of many things more personal to Sarah than her proudest creation, her precious hoverboard. She was standing on the ramparts over the gates with her camera, taking photographs with her camera. Preston smiled as he came up to her, putting his arm around her.
"I know everyone's proud of their home, but when Phillipe and Ivan used to tell me how beautiful this place is, I always wanted to come and see it." Sarah told him. "Can you believe this sunset?"
"It's really something alright." Preston agreed. "If it wasn't for satellite dishes and electric lights, I'd almost believe we had gone back in time here. They really love holding onto their heritage in Zandar don't they?"
"The way that Phillipe and Ivan used to talk about their home I used to always feel a real love." Sarah continued. "Even Koda would have this look on his face when he talked about being back in the cave with his family."
"Koda, he's the one I've not met yet?" Preston asked her. She just nodded.
"He's really something, he's got this amazing heart. He also gives the most amazing hugs!" Sarah said with a little laugh. "I can't wait until you get a chance to meet him. I think you'll really like him."
"If he was your friend, I'm sure I'll love him too." Preston stated. "Everyone always feels like this about their home."
"I wouldn't know." Sarah sighed. Preston just looked to her a little curiously.
"What?" He asked her.
"I mean, I love Summer Cove and I loved Amber Beach, but the way everyone talks about where they grew up, I just…I've never felt that." Sarah told him. "My family moved around a lot. When my dad was in investments, he was always on the lookout for the bigger firm, the better job…"
"The better pay check." Preston concluded. Sarah just nodded.
"Then after what happened in Panorama, we moved a few times to keep ahead of the rumours and make sure people didn't put two and two together." Sarah told him sadly. "I know my dad's a much better person now. I am so proud of him and the changes he's made in his life and I love him so much, but I can't help hearing the way everyone talks about their homes and feeling like I've missed out on something."
"Well, to be fair, Brody's home was a spaceship where he was a slave." Preston said, trying to find a positive spin to put on things. She knew what he was doing and appreciated the effort. "Considering the fact, he jumped out the trash chute thousands of feet in the sky…I'd say he doesn't miss it that much!"
Preston turned her to face him.
"For what it's worth, there is one good thing about not having a home." Preston pressed on. "It means you get to make one wherever you want, with whoever you want."
"That's…that's one way to look at it I suppose." She replied.
"And as someone who did grow up there, I can recommend Summer Cove." He answered.
"I could see that happening." She answered, looking to Preston as the glow of the setting sun illuminated his face. They both stared at each other for a moment, and then they started to draw towards each other. They had already tried to kiss once, they both still laughed at 'the incident' as they had come to know it. Both of them were nervous and inexperienced, and had since come to the realisation that they had let other people get into their heads and push them towards a stage in their relationship they weren't actually ready for. The whole thing was hilarious now, though rather embarrassing at the time. Now though something was overtaking them in this time. They pulled together, this time without any prompting angling their heads and pressing their lips together as they pulled in, taking each other in their arms. They parted after a moment, just staring at each other.
"Woah." Preston said after a minute.
"Yeah, woah!" She answered. "That was…really something."
"Yeah, it really was." Preston agreed. "Um…are you done here?"
"I think I've got the best shots." Sarah said a little awkwardly. "It…it really does get chilly out here quickly doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it does!" Preston agreed. "So…we going back inside?"
"Yeah, I think that would be for the best." Sarah agreed. Preston offered his hand, which Sarah eventually took, and with that, they both headed back inside.
Back on the Romero Farm, in the dead of night, all was still. They had all stayed up for a little while, but had ended up going to bed relatively early so that they could be up early to begin work on the workshop. After dubbing Redbot an official brother, they had felt they really couldn't justify leaving him as just a head any longer than absolutely necessary. The house was now structurally fine, and would need only a little furnishing and cosmetic work, which they had all decided could wait until after they rebuilt Redbot. It would also allow them to begin to search for the Super Ninja Steel asteroid, which with a working workshop would mean they could start to rebuild and replace their old arsenal.
There was, however, one figure still moving. Dane had risen, and had gone outside. He didn't really feel right about what he was doing, but he had waited until the lantern in his sons' room had gone out, and then made his move.
He crept up to the window, and took a look inside. Brody and Levi had taken this room, and were sleeping on the floor. At least, they looked like they were sleeping, that was always a big danger in covert entry. Some people would lie in bed for some time before they finally went to sleep, some were light sleepers. He opened the window gently, allowing a gentle breeze inside to see if the boys stirred. They did, but not much, only a little shifting of the sleeping bags to pull them in and make themselves warmer.
He then went to the next stage, picking up small pieces of gravel from the ground, he tossed one in, hitting Brody. There was a small movement, but more just an instinctual reaction like shaking off a bug than anything else. There was no real investigation to find out what touched him. He did the same to Levi, getting much the same reaction. He took this as his time to make his move. She slipped in the window, silently setting down on the floor.
Moving quietly was a skill a ninja developed over a lifetime. Some surfaces were easier than others. Even, firm surfaces like concrete were relatively simple. Some surfaces like wood, which would creak with uneven pressure, were a lot more difficult, but he was a master. He had been able to sneak up on the Head Master of the Wind Ninja Academy on a gravel path, getting close enough to pick his pocket once. It impressed him enough to land him on the shortlist to become a Sensei.
He looked around the room, trying to find what he was looking for. He saw Levi's bag on the hook by the door and made his way over. He got to the bag and undid the clasp, before looking to the boys to make sure neither of them were moving. Carefully, he reached inside, and with a quick search, he found the diary. Taking it with his thumb and forefinger, he slipped it out of the bag. He clipped the bag again. One of the biggest mistakes anyone made in these situations was leaving too much out of place or not how people expected it to be. If Levi found his bag unclipped, he might think someone took something out of it, but if it was still clipped, he could doubt he put the diary in there in the first place. Dane made his way back across the room, and slipped out the window, quietly sliding it shut. He smiled as he looked to the diary.
"Still got it!" He complimented himself, before turning to head back around the farmhouse. As he was going though, he heard something moving. He looked around, finding a route to make his way around. One of the most important rules of ninjutsu was that the direct approach was rarely the most productive.
He managed to circle around, before taking to the trees. He used the branches to make his way back towards where he had heard the noise, eventually finding someone in the bushes heading towards the house. The figure was making a good effort, he had been trained, most likely as a tracker or hunter. In a farming community, people with such skills were quite common, though by comparison to a Ninja Master he was an amateur. Dane moved directly above the figure as he was heading for the house, beginning to look in the windows, before preparing to strike. Another rule of ninjutsu, one so many didn't seem to know, always look up!
He dropped down on the figure, causing them both to tumble to the ground. The diary fell from his hand, but right now his priority was the figure in his yard.
It was dark, so he didn't get a good look at his face, but it looked to be an adult, not much smaller than him. Dane lunged for him, but the figure was surprisingly quick, ducking his lunge. Dane turned and looked after him, seeing him already halfway into the woods, moving at an impressive pace. It was then that he heard movement inside the house.
"Hello?" He heard Levi call out. The commotion had woken the others. He suddenly became aware of the fact he didn't have the diary and looked around frantically for it, before the lantern was lit. He had to abandon it and get inside before the others realised what was going on. He ran back inside to head off his sons, not noticing that as he ran, he inadvertently kicked the diary into the crawl space under the house.