Chapter 1: To Deling

[Storyteller]

DarkBlueHated~
"Welll, we'rre going to Deling..." Terry whispered to himself deep in thought.

/Yes, it seems we are./ Terry's reknown Guarding Force, Harmony, responded.

It's been a long time since I've talked to you.

/We never really had to comunicate, until now./

Yes...

Terry could feel her mentally sign. /Are you sure this is where you want to go, Terry?/

I'm not sure, but I have to follow them. It's what I have to do. Terry thought bitterly.

/Do as you must, you know that I will follow./

"...thank you...."

Terry suddenly appeared out of the shadows behind everyone. He was waiting in there to silently be by himself for a momment before following the rest of the group on their little adventure.

[Storyteller]

Auria~

At Gone's command Zacke turned to find a seat. He noticed Tomoe approaching, who then took a seat nearby. He made his way over and into the seat next to hers. He noticed her fingers toy with her zipper, and his gaze drifted up to her face.

"Nervous?" he asked.

[Storyteller]

Seiferfetish~
Kyou gave Rika a quick squeeze, before he strode over to Gone. "Gokai here. Just tell me if you need anything," he said, taking a seat in the co-pilot's chair. His eyes drifted back to Rika, who was writing in a journal and he couldn't help the small smile that curved his mouth. Shaking his head to clear it, he turned back to Gone. "Nice airship. I recognize the model. Did you do all the work yourself?"



Gaiea leaned back against the side of the Lady Luck and observed her fellow SeeD. Tension was running high. And the mission hasn't even really started, she thought in disgust. Shrugging, she closed her gray eyes.

Here's hoping this makes the trip to Deling shorter, she thought, drifting off into sleep.

[Storyteller]

Spiffy Goddess of Death~
Sym sighed as she sat down in the aircraft, her bag stuffed mercilessly beneath the seat below. It was good to be going again, to be on another adventure to save the world. Maybe this time would turn out better than the last mission they had been forced on. Last time hadn't turned out so well, for anyone, ~Yeah, Aly was my cousin-in-law too, just like Col. Now that I think about it like that, it really hurts. Damn wars, killing off friends and tearing the world apart. . .~

~Would you rather have us give up, Lady. Just let the evil take over?~ Die-sha asked, his voice a reassuring low rumble.

~Hell no, I just don't want this fight. I didn't even have a chance to get to know Aly, damnit, and she was my cousin! For the love of the Goddess, I don't want to loose anyone else! I couldn't stand to loose another friend!~ Sym growled, her head down nearly to her knees in frustration. She was a fighter, true, but wasn't there an easier way? Something that didn't involve losing friends?

"I just don't want to lose anyone else. . ."

[Storyteller]

Ash~

Blaze stood in the airship, looking for a place to sit down. There were a few empty seats, but Blaze came to realize the sad fact that they were empty for a reason.

Definantly don't want to sit by Stardust.... nor the puke lovers Zacke and Tomoe. For sure don't want to sit by that little prick, Colum... kill me before I sit next to Sym and Terry.. She closed her eyes for a moment before reopening them. She caught Wolfe staring at her for a split second before looking the other way. The seat next to his was empty and before Blaze could give a second thought, she plopped down right next to him and looked him right in the face.

"Who the hell are you?" She asked bluntly.

Might as well know the name of the freak who keeps staring at me.

[Storyteller]

GC~
"Nice airship. I recognize the model. Did you do all the work yourself?" Gokai asked.

“Huh?” Gone said glancing to his left. “Yeah, I did all the work on the Lady Luck. As if I’d let a rookie mechanic touch her. Hey, anytime you want, you can come to the hanger and work on the airships or cars or whatever. Be glad for the help.”

It felt good to be flying, he supposed it was akin to the feeling a junkie experienced when they shot some drugs up their arm after suffering from withdraw. Okay, bad analogy but…

“Yeah, she’s a reliable model. I’ve got a few older models back home in Esthar. All in working condition, at least they were when I left…” Gone shook his head, clearing of his thoughts. Thinking of home wouldn’t do him any good. He didn't like to think how his grandpa and parents were using the family company to aid Adel.

They were flying smooth and they would continue to fly smooth unless one of his teammates was the saboteur and decided to do something while they were flying. No matter, he could land the airship in any weather condition, with anything wrong with it. Besides he didn’t like much to think about the possibility that one of their teammates was a traitor.

Man, he loved flying.

[Storyteller]

Ani~

Stardust blinked. Strolling down Deling and asking people for a certain store would definitely mean nothing but a waste of time, considering the fact that they only had a limited time to talk to the informant. She couldn’t afford that.

Lifting her chin up, she paused for a second, looking a bit confused. Then glanced at Reese Americk, seeing that he was the nearest person across from her.

“Have you been to ‘Something Stylish’?” she suddenly asked.

[Storyteller]

DarkBlueHated~
Welll, look at that. We'rre two off a kind." Terry whispered so that only Sym could hear. Terry didn't want to eavesdrop on Sym but with acute hearing you usually pick up on things like that.

Terry sat next to Sym quietly.

"I don't wanna lose anny one asslo.... but yu knoww, we'rre the only oness that can complete thiz mission." Terry whispered again. Only to Sym, only she could hear him. He wasn't comfortable with anyone else.

[Storyteller]

Bunny~
"Who the hell are you?"

/Isn't she a blunt one?/ Athena asked with amusement.

Blunt like a club..... Wolfe returned Blaze's scowl as he answered, "The name's Sheridan Wolfe, Lady Hotshot. You know, your manners--or lack thereof--really boggle the mind. Since we're obviously in introductions now, care to properly introduce yourself?"

---

"Nervous?"

Tomoe turned her head and found herself staring straight at Zacke. Her hands stilled and she shook her head, smiling slightly. "No, not really," she replied quietly. "How about you?"

[Storyteller]

Spiffy Goddess of Death~
Sym looked up and saw Terry beside her, his voice nothing more than a whisper. He was so quiet, but his words sounded loudly in her soul. He was like her, he didn't want to fight if it meant more losses, though his view was to keep fighting until the end no matter the cost. That was true, but Sym felt that there had to be an easier way, a way that wouldn't hurt her friends.The only one she thought of was giving up, and that wasn't an option.

Smiling amid her troubled thoughts, Sym looked Terry in the eye, noting the expression on his face. He was so nice and kind to her, she couldn't bear to think of what would happen if he was hurt. It would tear her into so many pieces if he was injured or, goddess forbid, killed. . . her eyes filled with tears. She would rather die than know Terry was hurt.

Looking to the ceiling once to clear her mind and eyes, Sym returned her gaze to where it had been before. She couldn't bear it, bear thinking of him dying. . . . Sniffling once, Sym put an arm around his shoulder and cried into it, her words slightly garbled through the fabric, "I couldn't bear to loose you Terry."

[Storyteller]

sh~

"The name's Sheridan Wolfe, Lady Hotshot. You know, your manners--or lack thereof--really boggle the mind. Since we're obviously in introductions now, care to properly introduce yourself?" Wolfe asked.

"...Sheridan?" Blaze wrinkled her nose, "Ok then Wolfe, you wnat a proper introduction? Well, you already know my name, so no introductions needed." She finished, just as Sym started sniffling into Terry's shoulder from the other side of the airship. Blaze stared at her for as long as she could contain herself.

Just ignore it.... just... ignor...

She couldn't stand it anymore. Feeling around in her pockets for a gil, she stood up and chucked it at Sym's head.

"SHUT. THE. HELL. UP. NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR A WEAKLING LITTLE CRYBABY. We're on a fcking mission, and you're crying? What is wrong with you?" Blaze asked, infuriated.

I've got the worst people on my team. We're barely into half a day on our mission, and someone already starts to cry?

[Storyteller]

Shadowfoxblight~
Alaxia sat by Xarin putting her legs up so if he attempted to pass he wouldn't be able unless he pushed her. Alaxia looked at Xarin "Please listen, I know you hate me, but I would never do that to anyone especially you. I could never hurt you. I could never think of it." Her eyes began to water "Xarin, can you find it in your heart to for give me please you may think oh she is just doing this to clear her conscience Its not true. I really like you"

/Awww how cute. Didn't I say you cant be with that fool!/ Lamara growled echoed in her ear.

"Lamara please I never ask for anything I just want to be happy"

/................I will retain judgment for now/

---

Alaxzander looked at the other SeeD's Gee what a bunch of loser's. He looked at his sister in disgust. He will never for give her anyway so I really don't have to worry. He grined and sat in the back watching the blue haired man.

[Storyteller]

Bunny~
"Ok then Wolfe, you wnat a proper introduction? Well, you already know my name, so no introductions needed." Blaze wrinkled her nose at him and turned away, her gaze fixed on someone on the other side of the ship. Suddenly she jumped to her feet and threw a gil to some girl across the room.

"SHUT. THE. HELL. UP. NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR A WEAKLING LITTLE CRYBABY. We're on a fcking mission, and you're crying? What is wrong with you?"

That girl didn't even do anything...she didn't just do that. Wolfe rose to his feet, just as annoyed, and grabbed Blaze's arm, turning her to him. "What's wrong with you?!" he demanded angrily. "You've been strutting around like some pissed off prima donna and now you're throwing things at people?! Some SeeD you are. You're a godd*mned disgrace to the word. Just like that one girl--what's her name?--Stardust. And what the hell?! What that girl is doing on her side of the room is her business, so keep your nose out of it, how about that?"

[Storyteller]

Seiferfetish~
"SHUT. THE. HELL. UP. NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR A WEAKLING LITTLE CRYBABY. We're on a fcking mission, and you're crying? What is wrong with you?"

Gaiea's eyes popped open and she sighed. No mistaking the voice. Did Blaze have to pick a fight with everyone? She opened her mouth to speak, but was beaten to it.

"What's wrong with you?!" A man-Wolfe?- demanded angrily. "You've been strutting around like some pissed off prima donna and now you're throwing things at people?! Some SeeD you are. You're a godd*mned disgrace to the word. Just like that one girl--what's her name?--Stardust. And what the hell?! What that girl is doing on her side of the room is her business, so keep your nose out of it, how about that?"

Hyne, have mercy on me please, she begged silently. Rising to her feet, she stepped between the two and removed Wolfe's hand from Blaze's arm.

"All right, children," Gaiea said calmly, speaking slowly as if talking to a pair of three year olds who didn't want to share a toy. "Let's all just calm down. Wolfe-that's your name, right?-, why don't you go sit over there? And Blaze, why don't you sit over here? I'm sure someone has a pair of earplugs too, that way no one will annoy you."

"However," Gaiea continued, turning towards Sym. "She does have a point. The time for emotion is over. We have a job to do and if you break down in the middle of battle, none of us are going to be able to save you." Especially if one of us is a mole. "We're SeeD and to show weakness is to be defeated. So get over what's bothering you right now. Otherwise you're just a liability."

/You sounded quite pompous/

I'll sound like a squealing Wendigo if it gets them to stop this inane fighting, Gaiea shot back, walking over to stand behind Gone's seat.

"How far from Deling City are we?" she asked. "The closer, the better."

/Looks like you aren't going to get any more sleep/

Indeed.

[Storyteller]

Ash~


Wolfe grabbed Blaze's arm and turned her around to face him, "What's wrong with you?!? You've been strutting around like some pissed off prima donna and now you're throwing things at people?! Some SeeD you are. You're a godd*mned disgrace to the word. Just like that one girl--what's her name?--Stardust. And what the hell?! What that girl is doing on her side of the room is her business, so keep your nose out of it, how about that?" Wolfe yelled at Blaze's outburst. He was fuming, Blaze didn't know that he'd be that mad about it.

Gaiea strode over and unhooked Wolfe's grasp from Blaze's arm. The second she did so, Blaze shoved Wolfe down into his seat violently and sneered into his face. "How about you keep your nose out of my buissness, you insolent newbie? Judging from Tomoe's punch, I'd say you're a godd*mned disgrace to the male race, and that's saying something. In fact, I'd say that judging from that punch, you'd be way too easy to beat up so I think i'll spare your life only to tell you that you'll be wishing you were dead the next time you try to touch me again."

"All right, children," Gaiea cut in, "Let's all just calm down. Wolfe-that's your name, right?-, why don't you go sit over there? And Blaze, why don't you sit over here? I'm sure someone has a pair of earplugs too, that way no one will annoy you." She turned to Sym and began to talk to her, though Blaze didn't hear a word of it. She stood in place, glaring at Gaiea as she went into the cockpit to talk to Gone. Blaze followed her.

"How far from Deling City are we? The closer, the better." Gaiea asked.

"We're close enough." Blaze growled from behind. She grabbed Gaiea and shoved her outside of the cockpit. "Go hug some trees." She said nastily as she slammed the door to the cockpit and locked it. Blaze stared at the metal door for a moment before punching it, and kicking it, over and over again. Every blow to the door caused a dent, and the loud banging could be heard on the other side. She didn't stop until her knuckles split open and blood flowed down her wrists. She took a pillow from the supply closet and slumped down in one of the dark corners of the cockpit.

"Tell me when we get there alright.." Blaze asked Gone and Kyou, her bright eyes glinted from the corner she sat in.

This is going to be a looooong mission.