Thursday Dawn

(("Walt."))

He opened his eyes. "Time to go, Friday?"

(("If you wish to leave well ahead of the storm. Otherwise you would be advised to leave the jet and take one of the alternative courses of action for return and retrieve it at another time, Walter. You have several hours before things will turn but anticipating your usual preferences, I decided to inform you now."))

He reached over and slipped the Mk32 scouter on and nodded looking at the relevant information. "You did wonderfully as always, Friday." He looked to his left and then his right. "Let's not wake them for a little bit." He saw something else. "Is this data accurate?"

(("Unfortunately we don't have another picture to go off of but estimates are a 92.756439821% match. Can't confirm it's the one we're looking for though. Shall I dispatch an intercept team or drones?"))

Walt slowly kissed Kali and Willow as he extracted himself from the bed and hit the shower. "No team... I don't want to spook them. Send a stealth unit to confirm but don't disturb them. I don't want them deviating from their present course and heading. If it is them, I'd like to handle it personally."

(("Rolling out the red carpet yourself. Understood, Sir."))

Walt chuckled as he washed up quickly. "Something like that. You know how much I like to handle personal business, personally. Besides there's no point in disturbing anyone yet. Besides I'm positive about this one... gut feeling and too many "signs" to discount it."

((*Sigh* "It's highly illogical but factoring in the criteria you previously laid out it is oddly specific to things you previously listed... and I know better than to attempt to counter your intuition no matter how improbable."))

Walt chuckled as he dried off and got dressed. He saw Kali and Willow both snuggling in the spot he'd vacated. He watched them for a few moments before deciding to let them sleep in a bit longer. It was very early.

Leaving the room he made his way downstairs to start coffee. "Wake them both gently in a little bit after the coffee is done. None of us brought much so packing won't take long." He put his jacket and hat on. "Let's go do a preflight check."

"... so that's why we're leaving so early. Sorry to wake you both at this hour."

Willow yawned but smiled while Kali nodded. "It's fine. I'm glad for the time we all had together."

Willow nodded too. "I agree. It's been wonderful!"

Walt grinned. "I feel the same. We will have to do something like this again sometime!"

He kissed them both. "Let's get you ladies home and back to bed."

Walt dropped them off near home before returning the jet to the hanger. Willow told Kali to come sleep for a bit in her room and she gratefully accepted.

Walt swung by the 3S cafeteria. Sure enough the early morning staff were on prep and surprised but happy to see him. He made some food really quickly while engaging in small talk. He placed it in a to go container and then that went into an insulated bag in the truck.

He put his duster on as the weather picked up a bit. What had been snow on top of the mountain was a cold, but light rain down here. He could see the occasional flashes far off in the distance. Thunder and lighting. He pulled out a poncho and blanket and placed them on the seat beside him next to the food.

Leaving the base he didn't take the direct route home. Instead he started down several of the side and back roads into the foothills. Finding a good spot where their paths would likely intersect he stopped the truck and got out. He pulled out a thermos he'd filled with coffee and two old metal cups. He filled one for himself and waited in the rain.

He didn't have to wait long. Just as he was finishing his cup he set it down. "I been waiting for you to show up."

There's a pause then someone spoke from the woods. "Is that a fact? Sorry to have kept you waiting."

"Yup," he said and refilled his cup from the thermos as well as the second one. "Why don't you come on out and we can talk?"

There's another pause then a figure in a tattered cloth of some kind they were using as a cloak stepped out. They'd armed themselves with a rather large rudimentary club. "You by yourself?"

Walt nodded. "Yup."

They still looked around then pointed their club at him. "You armed?"

Walt nodded. "Yup, but it ain't necessarily for you... just good sense, to be. I can disarm if you'd like?" He brushed the coat back to show his holstered gun and the knife.

They stared at him and then the rifle rack in the truck. They tightened their grip on the club. "I'm not going back."

Walt nodded. "Believe it or not. I don't want that for you, neither." He nodded at the second cup. "If I disarm myself will you have coffee with me? Listen to what I have to say?"

The figure hesitated. Thunder rolls in the distance and they slowly nodded.

Walt nodded too and carefully drew first his gun and then the bowie knife and placed them in the truck he paused and grabbed the poncho, blanket and food bag setting them on the hood. Opening his coat to show he was indeed unarmed now he picked up his cup and stepped off to the side. "That there blanket and poncho are for you as well. I dunno what you been through to get here but I thought you might be needing it and it looks like I was right. I promise not to try anything." He kept his hands where they could be seen.

She cautiously approached and said. "Turn around."

Walt nodded and did saying, "I'd appreciate it if you don't bash the back of my head in, though if you do let me take the hat off. It deserves better." He chuckled.

He heard movement. He knew she was behind him. He didn't move. There was a long moment and then he heard movement again. She'd backed off and there was the rustle of fabric. "You can turn around again. Slowly."

Walt did and was happy to see she had the poncho on and likely the blanket underneath. She had her club on her shoulder at the ready but wasn't brandishing it. The cup was in her hand. "It's not poisoned or ****," He told her. "You watched me pour from the same container." He slowly picked up his cup and took a drink.

He watched her hesitate and then take a sip. "That's good... thank you for this stuff." Her head turned towards the bag. "What's in there?"

"Food," he told her. "Breakfast. One of your favorites in fact."

Her stomach growled almost as loud as the Thunder in the distance. "You knew I'd be here. You claim to know my favorite foods. You seem to think you know a lot about me... and you've been nice enough so far. Why is that?"

Walt smiled. "You're one of my favorite characters. This here land your on now is mine. I knew the moment that I seen you on the security cameras. I been waiting for you infact hoping to see you. May I show you something?"

She nodded and her hand on the club tightened as he pulled out his phone. He started to show her pictures of her friends.

"They're here you see and we've been trying to find the others. Trying to find you. Bring you home, Nora."

He'd stopped on a picture of Blake and- "Pyrrha? Penny?" She said a tremor in her voice.

It was a video and he hit play. ["Salutations!" Penny said beaming and waving as the others laugh, followed by Blake waving saying, "Hi!" and Pyrrha doing the same with, "Hello again! It's me and well, us! Nora, the person showing you this video is likely Walt. He's a good person and we all live happily together. He thinks you'll just show up someday so we made this video just incase you do and we aren't there. Penny came up with the idea!"

Penny nods. "We cannot wait to see you and the others, Nora! Come home soon!"

Blake smiled and nodded. "We'll be waiting for you and all the others! Walt is a good person and someone who you can trust!" She chuckles abd conspiratorial whispered. "He's probably going out of his way for you right now and trying to feed you!"]

Walt chuckled. The ladies knew him well.

[Penny nods. "It's true! He's been making lots and lots of pancakes, hot cakes, griddle cakes, flapjacks and waffles with syrup in the mornings hoping you'd just show up!"

Pyrrha giggled. "He has. You're one of his favorite characters and he's as excited to bring you home and feed you as we are!" She looks at the camera. "We all have a chance to be together again here, in a wonderful home. Proffesor Goodwitch is here as well as several others. We're very happy and we want you to be happy too! We've missed you and hope to see you soon!"

All together they say, "So come home soon, Nora!"

The video skipped ahead to the next one. Again it's the three girls. "Salutations, Ruby! I hope you're dojng well my friend-"]

Walt hit pause. "They're excited. After we found the last couple they decided to record video greetings and introduct-"

Nora shakes. "H-how can I trust you? How can I trust anyone here? I have seen some of how Prime is."

Walt smiles sadly. "Fair point, Nora. But if I may... how can you afford not to trust me?" He slowly stepped forward but he reached for the bag not her. He took out the still warm food container and taking a fork opened it up. He cut and ate a bite of the syrup drenched pancakes within. Then slid it her way and held out the fork swallowing.

"There. Definitely safe to eat and-"

She grabbed the fork and started shoveling food into her face. Walt blinked and grinned as he watched sipping his coffee. He really did enjoy watching her and Sasha eat! He chuckled and resolved to do something extra nice for Sayoko and Roberta as they were likely to have trouble with this one as well!

Walt waited until she was finished. Once she was done licking the syrup from the bottom of the container he grinned. "If you come home I'll gladly make you-"

Nora lept at him but he trusted her. She hugged him. "Yes, please! Thank you! Thank you for taking care of my friends! Anyone who can cook like that can't be all bad! They're happy, safe and healthy! So I'm willing to trust you!"

Walt smiled. He hugged her back. "Thank you, Nora! And I'm just as glad you're safe and healthy... and I promise to try to make you happy too!" He grinned. "Starting with breakfast! Let's get in the truck and to the kitchen!"

Nora laughed and nodded. "You know... I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship!"

Walt nodded too as he walked around the truck and opened the passenger door for her. "Nora, I was just thinking the same thing!"

"Mmm... one more, please!" "Yeah, one more please!"

Walt grinned from over by the stove. "You got it. Coming right up!" They were in the covered portion of the outside kitchen. He didn't want feeding the starving Nora to get in the way of the normal kitchens operations. Still they'd been at it for awhile and Sasha had joined them after finishing early morning chores. Nora had started to slow down to a normal "fast" pace and Walt could eat as well. It hadn't all been just pancakes either... but there had been a lot of them and everytime either asked he made another stack.

Roberta brought out three more plates of bacon eggs and potatoes for each of them setting one each by Nora and Sasha and the third one on the counter near where Walt was cooking before starting to clear the dirty plates for washing. "Dios! It is like that documentary from the other day out here explaining the extra dimensional space! Where does it all go?"

Walt, Nora and Sasha chuckle and rub the back of their necks. "Sorry for the trouble!"

She shakes her head but is smiling at how happy the three of them are. "It is no trouble. Please enjoy your meal!"

Walt took a few bites of his food as he started making more pancakes! He grinned as he saw her come out with her water bottle waving to him. He wiped his face since he was probably wearing some food. "Morning Pyrrha! Off for your run? The weather's turning a bit nasty."

Sasha and Nora said, "Morning, Pyrrha," in-between bites of food.

Pyrrha said, "Good morning, Sasha. Good morning, Nora." She walked over to Walt giving him a kiss. "Good morning, Walt! You're back early and already... busy..." She blinked. Walt nodded. She covered her mouth excitedly. Looking at his spatula, the pancakes and then his grinning face. He flipped the panckes and turned her around.

Pyrrha cried out happily as she ran to her friend who was just starting to blink and get the same dawning realization as she rose from the table.

"Nora!" "P-Pyrrha!"

They flew at each other hugging and crying and laughing. Babbling with excitement and happiness.

Walt grinned as he finished up the next stacks and his food that Roberta had brought, before bringing them over to the table. He set one stack in front of Sasha, one by his usual spot and another by Nora.

But as he set it down Pyrrha grabbed one arm and Nora quickly grabbed the other and they pulled him into their happy reunion. He grinned and happily hugged them both.

"Awwww... that's sweet!" Sasha said reaching for Nora's unattended plate before Roberta walked by swatting her hand as she cleared more plates. Sasha quickly changed targets and reached for Walt's plate only for Sayoko, who was bringing out more ingredients for Walt, to swat her other hand. Sasha sighed and nodded. She could give up for- something was wrong. Her stack looked... smaller! "That can't be right," she said as Pyrrha laughed and Walt and Nora both swallowed and licked their lips.

The others were all excited to see Nora. They had so much to share and catch up with her about!

Nora nodded. "Ok so you're telling me that Walt is a good person. I can believe that. And he has been trying to help you find the rest of us. I can see that and believe it too, otherwise I wouldn't have let you all talk me into wearing this collar and taking "ownership" of me. But... how many of you are there that just happen to be dating and/or sleeping with him?!"

The others look around slightly embaressed but nod their heads as Neo, who she was supposed to accept as a friend now, held up 7 fingers. Neo saw Willow blush and nod and held up 8 fingers.

"Eight of us," Penny said smiling.

Nora blinked. "What? Does he have God's gift to women in his pants or-" Seeing the others either blush furiously or nod emphatically she holds up her hands. "No! Don't. Details can come later. Damn. I'm just... trying to get a grasp on the situation here!"

"Actually..."

All heads turn towards Kali and Blake who had spoken at the Sametime and blinked turning towards each other.

There's a silence profound enough to hear a pin drop as Neo holds up all ten fingers but waves them like saying, "Maybe".

Penny smiled and said, "At least Ten to the first part and 9 to the second part!"

Nora sighed. "Proffesor Goodwitch... there isn't going to be a quiz on this later, is there?"

Glynda shook her head adjusting her glasses. "No. Honestly I'm having a hard time keeping track too!"

"What do you mean "actually"?" Kali and Blake asked at the same time. They both shook their heads and pointed at each other.

"You're planning on dating, Walt!?" Blake said at the same time Kali said, "You're already sleeping with, Walt!?"

They both blinked.

"You were planning on dating him?" Kali asked surprised as Blake stunned states, "You mean you're already sleeping with him!"

"Ooooh," said Nora. "Somebody go make popcorn!" While Pyrrha facepalmed.

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Nora Valkyrie Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana and Mission Vao

Will Return In

Thursday Morning

Coming Soon]