Her eyes were wide and full of delight at the sight of the sunlit world. There didn't seem to be a care in her now that she was free of the grove. The girl he met there no longer existed; all that remained was a lovely and curious girl at his side. She never stopped asking questions. There were times Ky laughed for no reason and she joined him. It was a good thing they were out here alone.

When the sightseeing of the hills and mountains ended, he led the way back to the port where the Force's airship waited. The ship showed old battle scars on its side with scratched and scorches, but it still had its pride. A white ID number was barely legible over a faded olive green base color.

He kept her close as they neared. He saw a few officers watching above and others were approaching once they saw their commander. One leading a group saluted and said, "Sir. Did you find the Gear?"

Ky glanced at Dizzy then back to the officer. "No. The village had been attacked by one a long time ago, so they must have been spooked. In fact, it wasn't them who reported it. It was from some other outside source. I'm calling it a false report." He turned his head to Dizzy with a smug look on his face.

Then, one of his officers asked him, pointing to Dizzy, "Who's this?"

"Ah. This is Dizzy. I will be accompanying her to . . .umm—" He looked around. "I'm afraid I cannot reveal that information to you."

"Why's that, sir?"

"Well . . ." He looked around again and brought up another lie. "She's on the assassins' list. I'll need to escort her."

"To Paris?"

"I—" He paused and thought this over. Would Paris be the right place for her, given its past with Gears, let alone there were people— But then again she could have protection by his orders. No one would know she was a Gear. But what if a few retired knights did find out? If so, would they know it was him who brought her?

She needed to be safe. She needed his protection.

She needed to be human.

His mind acted quick and he said, "Yes. We will take her to Paris. I will keep her safe there under my supervision and while on this ship." He looked amongst his officers. "Is there anything else to report?"

"No sir. Things have been quiet from here," one of them said.

"Good."

"So, your orders?"

Ky's eyes wandered. "Look over this area before we leave. I will be in the captain's quarters for a short while." He gave a quick nod before he walked away and entered the airship with Dizzy following. After they cleared his men, she looked behind herself.

"Who are they?" she asked.

"My officers," he said. "They're going to take us somewhere safe."

She suddenly grabbed his arm and shook it. "They said they're going to take us to Paris. What's this Paris like?"

Ky stared forward as if there was something to watch. He hesitated a few seconds but Dizzy didn't question him. Not yet. She hadn't caught onto his lies and body language. He wondered when she would.

"It's . . .I was born there. I was raised with the Holy Knights my entire life and I was trained by them. It was hard training. I practiced the art of swordsmanship just about every day. I never lived a normal childhood."

"I feel we are the same," Dizzy said.

He glanced at her and continued. "It's different now. It's quiet. It's much different than the village or your grove. Much, much different. It's a large city, alive, compared to a few years ago. To a person who lives so simply—" He paused, growing worried now. "There are people. Lots of people."

"Then why are we going there?" she asked after hearing that.

He forced a smile. "There will be a place for you."

"Where?"

"We'll find out." He rubbed a hand on her head. She giggled when he did.

"I can't wait!" she cried joyfully like a child. But Ky showed no joy. It was a good thing Dizzy had her attention turned away from him because if she did she would see his face and she would start asking questions again. With her even closer, he had to be careful.

He led the way into the captain's quarters. He held the door open for her then closed it and locked it behind him. He stood there with his back to it like a guard. He faced Dizzy who stood in front of him. "You see this place, Dizzy? You are to stay here at all times. I don't want you around my men, for safety's sake. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but what if you go out? Can I go with you?"

"No. I know you want to look around but you'll have to stay here. The trip won't be too long."

Dizzy sighed and said in a disappointed tone, "Okay." She turned her back to him and looked around the room. There was a desk across from the door which was covered by a map and papers. There was a small bookshelf on the left against the wall. She went to it and looked over each printed spine. "What are all of these?"

"Books," he said.

She laughed. "I know what a book is."

"Can you read?"

"Not much," she said. "Josephine couldn't teach me because she was blind. Testament taught me a little, though."

He let down his guard by the door and walked to her. "Josephine. Did she know brail?"

"Brail? What's brail?"

"It's a way blind people can read," he said.

She went quiet for a long moment. The topic of the blind and her friend slowly faded away with her eyes staring out like ice, but they soon warmed in their soft red again when she looked at the books.

"What are they?" she asked.

He looked them over. "Fiction, world books, mostly atlases and maps. Speaking of —" He picked his head up and walked to the desk. There were two open maps, one hidden under the other. He touched the tips of his fingers on the one on top and glanced at it before he let his eyes wander. On the side he saw papers kept in no particular order. As he did this, Dizzy walked to him and watched. She leaned over his shoulder.

"What's that?" she asked.

"A map," he said.

"I never saw a map before. I looks like a picture."

"Yes, you could say that," he said. "It's a picture of where you are and where you're going. Have you ever heard the saying 'map it out'? This one here is the area where we are."

She stared at it with her eyes looking over each line and word. She studied each detail and looked over the entire map. She then reached over and picked something up. She held it in her hand. "This is a strange watch," she said.

Ky saw what it was and struggled to keep himself from laughing, and bit himself. He had to wait a few moments to make sure he wouldn't laugh out loud or snicker when he opened his mouth. "It's not a watch."

"If it's not a watch, then what is it?" She kept her eyes on the face of it.

"A compass."

She held it up. "What does it do?" Her eyes widened as she looked at it. "It moves. Ky, look how much it moves! Is it broken?"

Ky bit himself harder than before. "No. See those letters? That's north, south, east, west. These compasses always point North. It's another way of showing direction." He leaned towards her and reached for it with his body nearly touching hers. "See, let me—" He suddenly jerked back, realizing he was too close for comfort. "No. There's more important things to do right now. Perhaps I'll tell you some other time."

"Ky," she said, "You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Blushing."

He suddenly spun away and faced the window. "I told you it's the sun."

Or is it? Something was happening to him and it was happening only when he was around this girl. His men said nothing about him. And why did he fight off so much amusement just now? He could almost taste blood when he had bit his lip. Maybe he did cut himself.

It was nothing.

He slowly turned his head to look at her again. She still held the compass in her hands but now it was cradled in them and pressed to her chest. She said nothing.

"It doesn't matter," he said. "All-in-all, we're going to Paris." He paused. "I think." He crossed his arms and ducked his head. He began pacing the small room. While he did, Dizzy watched him.

"What's wrong?" she asked him after a few moments. "I feel you are worried."

"Why's that?"

"You have an uneasy aura," she said. "And you're pacing. People pace when they are worried. May I ask what's wrong again?"

He stopped. "Our trip. It can be dangerous. Obviously. Paris can be dangerous. For you. You see, it has a history with Gears, and so do I. If I told it to you, you would change your mind in going . And your aspects towards me."

"I thought you were going to take me somewhere safe and protect me," she said.

Damn she was good.

He propped himself up against the desk with his arms crossed. "Just let me think a moment." He stared down on the floor. "I thought Paris would be the best place at first. You see, let me explain. There's—"

There was a knock at the door.

"Yes?"

"All clear at the port," a voice said from behind the door. "Shall we take off now?"

He glanced at Dizzy then back at the door. He stood there a long moment silently, then said, "Yes. To Paris." No second thoughts. It was instant.

"Yes sir." Footsteps then faded away down the hall. Ky kept his eyes on the door.

"Looks like we're going to Paris anyway," Dizzy said from behind him. With a grin on her face, she walked past the desk and to the single window. She went on the tips of her toes to look out it. "I like the idea. I bet there are lots of interesting things to see. I can't wait. Is it bright and sunny there?"

He said nothing. He watched her, and as he did he saw the yellow bow that was tied to her tail sticking out.

This time he tasted blood.