Chapter 1: To Deling

[Storyteller]

Ash~
"So, are we going to ride another airship or what?" Stardust barked loudly enough for Blaze to overhear.

"ah we gunna rahd anuther airsheep or wAt?" Blaze mimicked as Jun passed back the photo with a "thanks"

"Uh... you're welcome... whatever your name is." Blaze replied, being rude as usual. She slipped the folded picture beneath her arm sleeves because her pockets were stuffed with packets of gum and proceeded out the door.

[Storyteller]

Auria~
Reese watched impassively by the door as each one of them filed out of the office. The woman with the badanna looked very familiar, and after a few moments' thought, he figured out that she was the one fighting with Stardust at the Ball last night.

He resisted the urge to mutter 'settled your differences?' or something of the sort, as she passed. Such a fiesty one, she might hit him right there.

"ladies" these days...he thought to himself, overhearing Blaze mocking Stardust.

/Aww Reesie, they're just a little rowdy, that's all. Maybe all they need is a hug?/ Perish cooed in his mind.

Maybe their mother's should teach them not to be so nosy... he retorted, his eyes wavering on the back of Blaze's head. He looked over to the girl next to her, the girl that had completely lost her temper during the fight. Kittens.

/I resent that./

[Storyteller]

Spiffy Goddess of Death~
Xarin watched Alaxia approach with one of his many ice cold looks, hoping that she'd notice and turn away. He was in no mood to be talking with anything alive, and Alaxia was one of the ones near the top of his avoidance list. Maybe, if he radiated a cold enough aura, she'd leave him alone to his ghosts and pester someone else. Aparently, though, it didn't work because she still insisted on appearing before his face, something like tears in her eyes. Had she cried? Over him? No, she cried because he'd managed to point out the truth of her actions, that she'd been found out.

Cutting her words off before she could make any more excuses, Xarin glared icily at her, "I'll chose who's 'freak' I am, miss, and it won't be yours. I'll stay by myself, and not make the mistake of being social again. So, leave me alone, I have better things to do with my time than stand here, listeining to people whine."

With that said, Xarin left for his room, not caring about what happened behind him. Let her cry, she'd hurt him enough to deserve it.

~~~~*~~~~

Sym cleared her throat at Col's words, a witty retort fresh on her lips. Man, he left himself wide open for such things. . . , "So, you would have gone to another room to badmouth women? I don't see how that can be better, cuz. You'd still be being very impolite, and then I'd have to find you and yell at you. Really, Col. . ."

It was then that he left, leaving Sym behind with her mouth hanging open. She narrowed her eyes at his stalking away, her resolve hardening. No way was he going to leave his cousin without even saying hello, that would be unforgivable. So she ran after him and caught his back in a hug, leaning close to his face as she spoke, "That's no way to treat your long lost cousin, Col."

[Storyteller]

QuistisTrepe002~
Col felt the weight of Sym against him, and with a slightly irritated tone, he spoke.

"Right," he said somewhat sarcastically. "Get off me." With that, he shrugged her off, and headed down to his dormitory to pack.

Opening his door, he crossed the room towards the computer terminal.

Suppose I can message Gaiea he thought, as he keyed in the password.

Balamb's familiar insignia appeared on his screen. [Welcome To Balamb], it said.

Colum smiled as his computer loaded up. She's sure pretty, he thought, as he typed a message.

Gaiea,
Sorry about acting like a complete jerk. I'm tired, and sorry for assuming anything about us. I would like to make it up to you, so if you're up for it, would you like to join me for dinner once we get back from this quest?

-Col.

With a satisfied smile, Colum sent the email.

Turning away from his computer, he proceeded to grab the bag that held the stuff from his previous mission.

Sword, gloves, clothes, eating utensils, he checked off in his mind, as Dove snickered.

/Why are you packing eating utensils again?/ she asked him, with a teasing tone she used when she was amused.

Cuz we might need them. It doesn't hurt to be prepared, Colum answered.

/Riiiiiight/Dove smirked, glad for once that Col couldn't see her face.

Toolkit he thought, as he glanced frantically around his pristine room.

It was over there in the corner.

==Dan==
Dan watched as Sym left the room, a bemused grin on his face. Turning to the cupboard, he pulled out a long length of rope, a red sheath, for his gunblade, and some oilcloth.

With a sigh, he thought of how things had fallen into disrepair after Alyeena had gone back to the Garden the first few times.

Now, he realised, he'd never see her again.

It's a painful moment, he thought, When death seperates you from one loved one, and leaves you with nothing but an empty shell..

/What are you doing waxing philosophical?/ teased Freya.

I have no idea, Freya, none whatsoever, he replied.

With a small shrug of his shoulders, Dan turned to the doorway, his bag hefted over one shoulder, his gunblade strapped tightly to his waist.

It was time for him to go. To go kill Adel and raise Genevieve in a world without fear.

[Storyteller]

Bunny~
She heard footsteps and stopped to turn around just as she heard a voice whisper in her ear, "That Wolfe is on this mission too?"

She looked up at Zacke and nodded. He's practically sending out garguantuan waves of anxiety. "What's wrong?" she asked, noting his nervous stance and the stress in his voice. "...Actually, could you hold on, Zacke? I almost forgot something..." She lightly touched Zacke's arm before walking towards Wolfe. "Wolfe."

Wolfe started when he heard her voice and turned around. Oh, crap, she's got the game face on.....keep it calm, Wolfe, keep it cool.... "What's up, Tom--?"

He didn't get to finish his sentence. Wolfe's mind registered Tomoe raising a hand a split nanosecond before he heard her fist connect with his lower jaw. A red haze of pain washed over Wolfe's vision as he stumbled back a step, one hand flying up to cover his jaw. "What the f*ck was that about?!?!" he shouted, trying to speak through the throbbing of his possibly-broken jaw. "Godd*amn!!"

"That," came the icy reply, "was for last night." Wolfe blinked, trying to see through the pain, and saw her walking towards a familiar man. It's that sonova--!

Tomoe glanced over her shoulder. "I forgive you," she said.
Wolfe only nodded, unable to talk. For the love of Hyne....! He needed an ice pack. Quick.

Tomoe made her way back to Zacke. "Sorry," she said quietly. He still looked nervous. "Zacke? You seem really out of it today....is something wrong?" She searched his face.

[Storyteller]

Auria~
Before Zacke could answer, Tomoe told him to wait a second. He watched as she made her way over to Wolfe. What...? his eyes widened as the sickening crack of her knuckles against his jawbone resounded. Ouch....

"That was for last night." she said coldly, then turned back toward him. She stopped and turned again. "I forgive you." she turned around again. Her face was a mask of calmness. She showed no signs of anger or irritation.

"Sorry. Zacke? You seem really out of it today....is something wrong?" she said, looking over him with concern.

He reached up and scratched the back of his head. "Um...no." he glanced over at Wolfe--still rubbing his jaw, then back down at Tomoe. He looked like he was trying to keep a grin from spreading his face. "Don't worry about me, I just didn't get much sleep." he couldn't help it. He cracked a smile. He lowered his head slightly and spoke in a low tone. "Showed him, didn't you?"

[Storyteller]

Ani~
Stardust blocked the hallway, making sure the other Seeds would take her seriously. She wasn't fooling around. They had to get going.

"Stop right there," she ordered Rika, Jun and Blaze at the moment they exited the office. "Noone is lea--" Stardust didn't get to finish what she was saying when someone just yelled, "What the f*ck was that about?!?! Godd*amn!!"

/Mmm...It looks like punching someone is in trend lately./ said Diwata, amused.

Stardust creased her forehead when she realized that Tomoe did it. She watched the golden eyed lady walk over to Zacke like nothing happened. This was it. Stardust was getting tired of holding her temper especially now that she was outside Xu's office. But she wouldn't tolerate this kind negligence.

"Are you paying attention to what I am saying?!" she yelled at Tomoe. Then she looked at the others. "I'm asking about how are we going to get to Deling but you pathetic SeeDs kept doing something! What is wrong with you lowlifes?!"

[Storyteller]

Auria~
Zacke could barely get out his last sentence before Stardust started yelling.

Again?! Does she ever stop screaming?! Doesn't her throat start hurting?!?. His eyebrows came together, now irritated.

"Hyne damnit Stardust! You. Are. Hurting. My. Ears. PLEASE. STOP. YELLING." he said the words slowly and loudly. He glanced down at Tomoe, then back at Stardust. "Excuse us for having a SHORT conversation while people are leaving the office. Should I get down on all fours a do twenty four you? Sh!t..."

[Storyteller]

GC~
Gone walked into the meeting room with his wrench in one hand, he didn't expect the meeting to take long. Gone was real surprised when Xu asked them what they thought of the ball last night. What the heck? He'd always thought she didn't know fun was; much less want anyone to have it.

He looked briefly at the picture, just long enough to get an idea of what she looked like. He was distracted by the fact that they were going to Deling. Pace was in Deling. Maybe he should look his little brother up. If they had time he might, he didn't want the other SeeDs along though. Pace was on the other side of the law, that fact might not sit too well with them. Oh well, maybe it'd be better not to.

Gone was jolted out of his thoughts by the sound of flesh hitting fesh. He saw one of his teammates hitting another. Joy... This was the kind of team he was working with. He hoped the kinks got worked out before they started the actual mission.

He heard Stardust yelling about how they were going to get to Deling.

"Well, love, we can take one of the airships. Only so long as I'm flying. I've been working on one, it's in good shape and is in lockdown, no one touches it but me. How's that sit with everybody?" Gone asked with a smirk.

/Even after last night you have yet to learn you lesson./ Arianrhod said dryly.

[Storyteller]

QuistisTrepe002~
Ambling down the hallway, Colum heard the voice of Gone speak.

"Well, love, we can take one of the airships. Only so long as I'm flying. I've been working on one, it's in good shape and is in lockdown, no one touches it but me. How's that sit with everybody?" Gone asked with a smirk.
Colum couldn't have been more irate if he tried. "I'm a pilot too, Gone," he hissed, "It doesn't sit well with me," he said.

"Quite frankly, Gone," Colum continued, "I'd rather be in the bottom of the ocean, with Deathstrike, then let you fly," he said.

He was angry. It didn't look like anything could be done, but Colum was too far gone to care. First the girl I like, now this--upstart--of a pilot tries to take my job away!.

/Col...Calm down/, Dove reasoned, but the man was beyond it.

[Storyteller]

Mercurymari83~
"No one is leaving?" Rika repeated in an annoyed tone. "I beg to differ." She then moved forward, gently moved Stardust aside while she was distracted, and walked past. She then turned around and smirked at Zacke's comment; feeling compelled to join in as well, she added, "You seem to forget that no one answers to you. Why don't you prepare yourself for the mission instead of badgering us?"

Rika then heard Colum insulting Gone. She frowned and shouted over to Colum, "Why can't you give him a chance? I seem to remember a certain pilot who didn't check the Hyne-damned Deathstrike before taking off! Hyne, you're bitchier than Stardust today!"

Rika sharply turned on her heel and entered the elevator. I've got spells to refine, I can't waste any more time with these childish quarrels. I've said my bit, I'm out. We can resolve this sh.it later.

[Storyteller]

Lily~
As soon as Jun had stepped out of the door, she was blocked by a visibly frustrated Stardust, who was ordering everyone to stay put.

Jun's attention was soon drawn away by a loud yell from a guy who was holding onto his jaw.

What the...? Looks like that girl just punched him! She thought in mild shock, as she tried to match the rough action to the fine-featured girl.

{YOU should know that in this line of business, appearances are more deceiving than anything else.} Sapph's voice echoed in her mind.

Yeah... but in the middle of a hallway! Makes people wonder, it does...

Before she could catch her GF's reply, Stardust was shouting again.

"I'm asking about how are we going to get to Deling but you pathetic SeeDs kept doing something! What is wrong with you lowlifes?!"

Lowlifes, eh? Unusual choice of words. Jun thought, a corner of her mouth turned up in a wry smile.

A man clad in dark blue coveralls approached Stardust with a smirk.

"Well, love, we can take one of the airships. Only so long as I'm flying. I've been working on one, it's in good shape and is in lockdown, no one touches it but me. How's that sit with everybody?"

{You know, I rather admire that Gone Vacc's guts. He dares to call her 'love' right after witnessing her hissy fit.}

Jun secretly thought the GF was spot on with his observation.

Opening her mouth to concur with Gone, she stopped short when a brown-haired guy started hissing at him.

"I'm a pilot too, Gone," He said with an irate expression. "It doesn't sit well with me.
Quite frankly, Gone, I'd rather be in the bottom of the ocean, with Deathstrike, than let you fly," he said.

I'm not sure I like his tone.

Jun felt like giving him a piece of her mind, but the girl next to her had beaten her to it.

"Why can't you give him a chance? I seem to remember a certain pilot who didn't check the Hyne-damned Deathstrike before taking off! Hyne, you're bitchier than Stardust today!"

I rather agree with her.

{Your reactions seem a little retarded today. Overdose on medication, perhaps?}

Shut up......

"Your suggestion sounds good, Gone." Jun said, giving him a little smile, and turned to address the other guy.

"Personally, I would rather choose someone who is capable of repairing the Airship to fly it." She said. "Anyone else agree with me?"

[Storyteller]

GC~
"I'm a pilot too, Gone. It doesn't sit well with me," he said.

Gone looked over at the boy who had spoken. He guessed he was the one who had crashed the airship, he’d blew 40% of his budget having recovered. A shout from another teammate confirmed it.
“Quite frankly, Gone, I'd rather be in the bottom of the ocean, with Deathstrike, then let you fly.” The guy said, he apparently hadn’t been done with the first comment. Gone’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m head of the engineering committee. I say who flies and who doesn’t. You won’t be flying until you learn about preflight checks. I blew 40% of my budget on a recovery operation! Something I wouldn’t have to do if someone had preformed a preflight check. It was in lockdown before it was taken out and no one goes near them who doesn’t have clearance. I’ll be flying and since you seem to have a problem with that, you can take the damned train or remove yourself from the mission.” Gone said not quite succeeding in keeping his voice level.

There were two things that made his voice lose its easygoing charm. His commitment to SeeD and his machines. His hand tightened on his wrench.

“Your suggestion sounds good, Gone. Personally, I would rather choose someone who can repair the Airship to fly it. Anyone else agree with me?” A girl, Jun said. He recognized her from last night.

“Why thanks, love, that means a lot to me, coming from a pretty girl like you.” He said, his voice going back to its original timbre.

/Gone, you’ve been with these people all of five minutes and you’re already referring to the girls as love. I had hoped that habit had died./ Arianrhod voice echoed in his mind.

Oh, you know how it is all good habits die hard.

He felt Arianrhod sigh. Maybe that wasn’t how the saying went.

[Storyteller]

Seiferfetish~
Gaiea smiled at Rika's retreating back. A trustworthy friend was a nice thing indeed. And one with a brain in her head and a backbone was even better. Personally, Gaiea couldn't agree more with Rika's statement.

/Kyou can repair the airship too/

Yes, Ki, he can. But now we have two repairmen and that's not a bad thing.

She stepped forward, past the forever b.itching Stardust, and between Gone and Colum. Reaching the door, she turned back around to face them, sharp glint in her gray eyes.

"If we're finished pissing testosterone on the hall floor, we have a mission to accomplish. Quite frankly, I don't give a damn who flies the airship, but it's going to be me if you two can't act like adults." Her gaze moved to Gone. "Gone, you aren't the only one who knows how to repair a ship." Then to Colum. "And you aren't the only one who knows how to fly one, Colum." She turned around, back to them, but raised her voice so they could hear. "Remember that when you wonder why I fly the ship to Deling with Kyou on board and you get left behind. I doubt Xu wants to leave this mission in the hands of petty teenagers."

Finished, Gaiea strode down the hall, toward the dorms. She'd packed the night before, all she needed to do was pick the bags up and go.

[Storyteller]

QuistisTrepe002~
Dan walked out to the airship, seeing the angry face of Colum.

"Let me guess," he said, without even skipping a beat, "Vacc won't let you fly, and you're pissed."

Col let out a laugh that sounded more like a sob, "Damn right, Dan."

With a small frown, Dan spoke to Gone.

"I feel like one of us should apologise for Col's behaviour, as he won't do it himself," Dan said, "Quite frankly, with his emotional state as high as it is, I don't think he should be let near any piece of equipment, mechanical or otherwise."

With that, Dan turned back to his unruly brother-in-law. "Colum, if I see one more instance where you lose your temper in such a manner, I will personally see to it that you are stripped of SeeD privelages." Dan said.

Colum shrugged. "Right," he said, as he started to gather up his bags. "Fine, Gone," Colum nodded, "You fly."