[spoiler]to make sure you got it[/spoiler] SHUT UP REESE! IF YOU DON'T TRUST ME THEN FLAT OUT SAY IT! *He went silent a moment, instantly regretting his uproar. In truth, he wanted to appease him, to make up some elaborate story on how he and Reese's father were chumming it up, having a blast. And, to be fair, there was enough evidence to support it. But he just couldn't do it, he just had to tell the truth* This place... this... Dojo... it isn't bound by space and time. It constantly alters itself around. I was born in 1983. August sixteenth, 1983. Or at least in this form, you know the story of my last one. So if I were to continue from that point instead of conforming to whatever the Dojo says it is, it would still be 2017 for me. As for not telling you... or anyone... about my disappearance... I'm sorry. All I left was a small note, which very few people read. I will assume you did not read it either. But I did this because I didn't want you coming WITH me. You have an amazing life, with Cyan and Clara, and this was something i did for another friend, so I went alone. And, finally, it was NOT a big deal. That was all it was, and I did not think to tell you because no one brought it up. I am truly sorry, and all I ask is your trust, I want you to truly believe me. I've never met your father, sadly, and I've lived my life on Earth until I joined the Dojo.

[spoiler]I'm so sorry for the late response. This week has been really hectic so far. :([/spoiler] Reese stated at Mortar pensively, then after some silence, sighed. A lot of what Mortar said didn't add up: if Mortar had lived his whole life on Earth, a planet that humanity last inhibited centuries ago, then how was it that Mortar accompanied him many times? Time-travel couldn't be possible from future to past. However, in the end, the answers to these questions were not worth the price of their companionship. "Alright," Reese said, after much thought in such short time. "I believe you on what you say...I understand." Suddenly, Reese approached Mortar and gave him a bro-hug, patting him on the back as he did. "You're a great friend," Reese said, emotionally. [spoiler]No homo, lol.[/spoiler]

*Mortar hugged back, squeezing tightly. He held on a little longer, to about five mississippi, because he felt as if Reese was a true friend, and he had very few of them, because Royal left for some reason, he hadn't seen Sketch in forever, and Ornstein was dead, and the whereabouts of his companion Smough were impossible to find. Mortar could tell Reese was still uncertain, and couldn't blame him. Mortar still didn't understand it. He had been in the same room with a cyborg cowboy and literal Dark Souls characters, from different times and places, far from his own, but decided not to bring it up. After all, Reese would figure that out soon enough.* You too man, you mean a lot to me. [spoiler]also no homo[/spoiler] Oh, and just so you know, about what you and Cyan did... what you said earlier. I hope you know that she physically can't get drunk. She's just a good actor and made that choice sober. I guess that should make you feel a little better.

"Thanks," Reese said, smiling as he did so. When Reese stopped hugging Mortar, he thought a small moment about what Mortar told him, his face expressing his uncertainty on how he should react. He must have looked like a fool in front of Cyan that night. "No," Reese responded, sighing. "That really doesn't make me feel better."

Wait, why? *A frown appeared on Mortar's face, his expression somewhat confused* Look, I know Cyan, and NOTHING you could do could make you look bad to her apart from heavy theft or murder. Plus, even after what you could assume is embarrassing she still went along, even acted drunk for you from what I can assume, until you parted ways at least. There's no way you're a fool in her eyes. *He smiled a little again until footsteps could be heard behind him. He whipped around, then sighed in relief, as it seemed familiar to him. The person belonging to the steps was wearing a black hood covering his face, shrouding what was open in shadow and darkness. He was lightly armored, made of a thick dark grey leather ad what appeared to be thin metal plates down his arms. On his back was a dangerous looking dark grey metal crossbow with a black wood stock. The string looked like a guitar string, a thick bronze colored string strung across the width. On the front was a surprisingly ornate silver bayonet. He stopped about three feet away, one hand on the crossbow on his back, looking right at Reese* Wait, Cross. Stop man! *He looked right at Mortar, taking his hand off the crossbow on his back* ???: Are you okay? I heard yelling. Mortar: Crossbow, I'm Fine. This is just a friend of mine, and we were having a bit of an argument here.

After loosening from his defensive stance, Reese analyzed the hooded figure before him, then subsequently approached him. "Hey," Reese reacted. "We've met before...in fact, several times. I'm Reese, remember?" He then held out his hand for a handshake. The man that drew at him was the same man who found Clara when she went missing; she was hiding in a small cave on a desolate planet.

*He nodded, letting out a slight chuckle and shook Reese's hand. He remembered meeting clara for the first time, helping them reunite.* Yes, I remember that. My apologies, Reese, for I didn't recognize you at first. How are you?

"Well," Reese stated, thinking of a way to summarize events in the past few months. "I had found myself a well-paying occupation as a mechanical engineer and weapon designer, as well as a small yet comfortable home that sits at a nice view of the Dojoville valley. Clara's doing well as a biochemist, and Wyatt got a job as a head officer in law enforcement; he and Clara are..." Reese slightly grinned. "...you know. Wilson is...Wilson, and he's doing just fine; I've been working on a small hover-bot so that he could have a physical extension." Reese thought for a moment, then continued. "...Oh! There was also this whole robot uprising led by a general overseeing a mining project owned by the Imperial Dominion, but that was quickly squashed. And...that's pretty much it." He had already told Mortar about what happened between him and Cyan; that was enough confession for Reese for one day.

Cross: Sounds cool. Most I did since we last met was train myself to the point where I discovered a new ability. It's not really anything, but there is some interesting stuff I can do with it. Mortar: I've seen it, it's pretty cool. Oh, one more thing, you mentioned Brutus. What were you going to say?

Reese, having thought of an excuse to the question, answered: "Oh, I was just referring to the time we rescued Clara from that SHG warship...when I explained the whole thing about the handgun." He planned to make a strange analogy out of the time Brutus slammed Mortar into his own back cannon repeatedly to explain what happened between him and Cyan the time she stayed overnight at his house. However, and probably for the best, he decided to drop it; Cyan was his best friend's sister, after all. "--Anyway," Reese went on, changing the subject. "what's this 'new skill'?"