Chapter5: Final Pitstop

[Chapter 5 Final Pitstop]

When you arrive at the Headmistress' office, the first thing you notice is the absence of a secretary at the reception desk. One of the doors was half-open, so after one of you knocks on it, you filter into the room to see that Blaze was already there, presenting the Ruby to Xu.

The Headmistress turns to you with a warm smile before beginning.

"Take a seat, everyone." She says, pausing as she waits for all of you to settle down. "Miss Sanaku has briefed me on the retrieval of the Ruby. Suffice to say I am very pleased with all of you."

She rests her gaze directly on Stella, Gemma and Jax before giving them an approving nod.

"Especially Miss Artos, Miss Ridean and Mr. Ridean. As commendation of your outstanding performance, you will be incorporated into the team when it goes onto the final phase of the mission."

"The final phase?" Rayden asked out loud.

"Yes. Assassinating the Sorcress." Xu's expression turns serious. "As we speak, Headmaster Leonhart would be in the process of unsealing the Trinity Sword with the help of Sorcress Rinoa. I will give you further details when they have finished the ritual. But meanwhile.... you are free to go until further notice." Xu nods smilingly again. "Alright, dismissed."

Jun glanced at the smiles that Xu was exuding and decided against informing her about the real identity of her ex-secretary. The SeeD seldom saw Xu in such a relaxed mood and she wasn't about to spoil it. With her shrug she made her way out of Xu's office.

------

Jaime placed her hand on Van's arm.

"Van...if we want to approach her maybe now is the time. She seems quite cheerful...we might just be able to convince her to let us join." She smiled hopefully at Van.
------------------------------

[Stella]

Stella stared at Xu for a moment before she reminded herself not to look appalled. Taking a deep breath thoughts rushed through her head at an alarming rate. This was all so much to take in at once.

Join these people, for a mission? Is Xu out of her mind?

She tried to shake off the feeling of impending doom and smile, but it was near impossible. A fake pleasant smile eventually creeping over her face as she nodded at Xu.

They are more likely to kill each other then Adel!

But the mention of the sorceress had sealed the deal for the gun slinging SeeD. She would be there to help with that in any way she could be. Maybe with Adel's death she could finally start to put the past behind her.

I'll just kill her by myself if I have to...

[Myacu]

Upon hearing the words of Headmistress Xu, Gemma was simply glowing inside. For so long, she had been assigned to meaningless missions; last time she had to escort the prime minister of Dollet at his wicket tournament. This last mission was the first one that had heavy significance.


She knew the task laid out before them. The assissination of Adel would relieve the world of its pain and destruction. Their success would determine it all.

Could she do it though? Gemma wondered. The other SeeDs were far more experienced on the field. Even Stella and Jax were better trained in weaponry than her.


I'm going to be the one that will drag everyone down.

[Myacu]

"...and Mr. Ridean. As commendation of your outstanding performance, you will be incorporated into the team when it goes onto the final phase of the mission."


Jax looked around at the other people in the small chamber. If they were surprised that more SeeDs would be added to the mission, they didn't show it. Except for Hadrian who kept trying to catch his attention.

Great...looks like I'm going to be spending a lot more time with these guys.

As everyone filed out of the room, Jax suddenly remembered something and turned around.

"Um, Headmistress? Due to recent circumstances, what do you propose we do about transportation?"

[vanesse]

Vanesse heard Jaime and thought she was absolutely right. They invited themselves inside Xu's office and now they had no choice but to move ahead with their plan. "You're right," the girl whispered. "I'll talk to her." She told Jaime and Deo. Turning around to gather some confidence, her query was cut by another SeeD, the pilot, from earlier.

"Um, Headmistress? Due to recent circumstances, what do you propose we do about transportation?" he asked.

Xu quirked an eyebrow and nodded. "Thank you for the reminder Mr. Ridean," she said. "You need not worry about that matter since I already sent some staff to tune up the new airship that you're going to use to crash through Adel's fortress. You can go have a check later if you wish. The best thing for all of you to do for now is to ready yourselves for the final battle." The headmistress smiled. "Why don't you have a small break? You earned it. We're finally at our final pitstop, good job."

"Uhm, headmistress Xu," Vanesse took this as her cue to approach her. A while ago, their plan seemed easy. However now, it was actually very difficult. The words just wouldn't come out. "W-we...uh...we're from an anti-adel faction outside Garden and we happened to meet the SeeDs back at Shumi Village." She cast a glance at the SeeDs behind her and walked closer to Xu's table. "After witnessing what happened to them, and some turn of events in our parts too, we...uhm..." She was nervous. "...we came into a conclusion that we want to aid the SeeDs in finishing their mission. We came here for your approval." And there she said it. Pressing her lips together, she waited for Xu's reply.

/Whatever this leads to, pray to Hyne it favors you./ Paridge told her.

[Xu]

Xu looked at Vanesse thoughtfully, then at Jaime and Deo following closely behind. She creased her eyebrow, seeming to run the words that Vanesse has spoken through her mind a few times over.

"You have to understand, Miss. This is a crucial mission we are talking about. I cannot take the risk of admitting someone whom I cannot place a hundred percent trust, on the team. And I'm simply can't give you that trust at a first meeting." Xu gave out a small sigh. "Your intentions may be good but I am the one who has to bear responsibility if anything should go wrong. Sorry, I would have to decline your request." Xu's voice was soft, but her words firm. "Now I'll have to ask you to leave."

[vanesse]

Vanesse bit her lip when Xu refused to accept her proposition. She had expected this to happen and she knew they better had to come up with something to convince the headmistress. She gave a wary look at Deo and Jaime. They'd come so far. They lost too much. This was the only logical way to do if they wanted to get a real shot at DotNA. She was going to have to beg if she had to.

"But headmistress Xu," she started. "You don't understand...I beg of you. Please reconsider. We're not as mediocre as you think we may be."

[Jun]

Jun, who happened to pass by and catch a little of Vannesse and Xu's exchange stopped and turned abruptly, almost bumping into someone else.

Now waitaminute that sounds pretty unfair. She thought grimly,making her way over to where Xu and the Opps were standing. Her trust... her trust was what made us almost lose the ruby! I guess I gotta enlighten her afterall.

"Ma'am, if I may add something?" Jun said with as much politeness as she could muster. "I think that sometimes trust is a flimsy thing. Cos your ex-secretary is actually a Dotna high-ranking official. THAT is why we kept having information being leaked out during our missions." Her eyes flashed for a wee second before returning to normal. "And besides... it's not like the Opps didn't help us while we were getting the Ruby." She said softly, turning her eyes towards the nearby SeeDs for support.

[vanesse]

Vanesse was ready to beg for more when Jun's interruption caught her attention. The words that she heard next sparked a glimmer of hope within her. She turned to Jun, and Jun seemed to be shining in brilliance as she tried to convince Xu in an intelligent and definitely convincing manner. They were being backed up. She didn't expect this from SeeDs.

"Ms. Kuroki," she said, nodding. She felt like she needed to call her that. Indeed, she was absolutely grateful.

[Polaris Lyn]

Polaris stood, immobile, thoughtful as she watched Vanesse plead with Xu; Xu's reluctance; and finally Jun's confession regarding Xu's secretary. Xu looked shocked at the news. Jun turned a somewhat pleading look towards the direction of the team, and Polaris felt herself move forward.

< Sister complex much? > Obsidian queried, sounding teasing in her head.

"Headmistress," Polaris began, softly. "...I...believe in the Opps."

< ...AND??? > Obsidian nudged.

Polaris chewed on her lower lip for a moment before continuing. "They have...proven themselves to be quite a valuable asset to the SeeD," she said quietly, her gaze locked on Xu's; she had a feeling that Vanesse might be gaping at her in sheer disbelief. "Had it not been for Opps member Deo," she paused for a bit, then cleared her throat, "had it not been for Opps member Deo's timely Guardian Force summon, there would have been...casualties during the Ruby retrieval." She lowered her eyes for a moment, "They also helped save the lives of Blaze Sanaku and Stardust Infinity in the recent battle against the Defenders of the New Age faction and their leader."

Polaris straightened slightly, "Their battle skills are acceptable---" < DAMN!! Be nicer!! > Obsidian hissed, "---I suppose...somewhat of SeeD caliber...and if you'd like...I will take full responsibility for their actions."

She stopped. There was a silence; Xu stared at her as if she'd never seen her before.

[ST]

"Really?... Saved Sanaku and Infinity's lives?" Xu flashed the slightest hint of an amused smile. "I understand, Miss Lyn, but this is a military academy with strict regulations regarding missions. We can't just let some non-profit rebel group assist you in assassinating Sorceress Adel. We have trained you seeDs for years and I am sorry but these "opps" are civilians, against the sorceress or not. The Gardens are not to interfere with civilian affairs."

Xu then fixed her gaze upon Jun. "Miss Kuroki," she said in a wavering voice that caused a few stares from her audience, "I am sure that your accusations against my secretary are unsupported. You realize that if you are wrong, you will be expelled from seeD," she said rather quickly, without any further instructions. Xu dropped a piece of paper from the stack she was shuffling but didn't seem to notice.

Nobody moved. Xu looked up and seemed to just realize that her office was full of people. She quickly steered the subject back towards the Opps. "I see that none of you will come to terms. Very well, I cannot force the unwilling. Judging from Miss Lyn's report, these Opps are quite competent. They may join you will full consent of the team." Xu looked directly at Blaze and Stardust with victory on her face.


Any seeD who wants to post XD
You pick up the piece of paper that Xu dropped and are about return it to her desk when you notice something strange. The piece of paper seems to be a love letter adressed to Xu. It's from... her secretary.

[miyavi]

*snicker snicker* Ooo, Xu gets love letters!!!

---

"I vote for having Pixie in our team!!" Sho said with his usual cheer, straightening after he had bent down to catch the piece of paper that had fallen off of Xu's desk. He had found himself squashed into the corner next to the Headmistress due to the amount of people in the office. "After all, she DID help us bail out from that airhship. Oh, and Head...mis..."

Sho blinked, staring the paper in his hand. < Aa...no WAY. >

To which Zephyr answered, < ...I believe the proper term for this would be...WAY. >

"...tress..." Sho finished, "is this why you won't believe Jun about your secretary?" He held out the love letter towards her. "I apologize for breaking your...well, heart," and he definitely looked troubled, "but we saw him...the whole team saw him. He's a mole, Headmistress, I'm pretty sure of that when he confessed to everything. He even tried to shoot Curly Fries---Pol," he amended quickly, shooting Polaris a quick look.

---

Polaris caught Sho's fleeting glimpse, and resigned herself to be the bearer of the rest of the bad news.

"Kuroki and Miyavi are correct, Headmistress," she said, again, quietly. "Your secretary has been leaking information to DotNA like a hose." She bit her lip and then said empathically, "He is using his position."

Polaris had no idea about the double meaning her final statement had.

[Myacu]

Polaris had no idea about the double meaning her final statement had.


But Jax did.


And judging by the conversations he overheard about a certain two people, it took every ounce of effort for Jax to hold back a laugh. Judging by the grim expression on Headmistress Xu's face, he knew that if he wanted to walk out of the room with a head, it was best to keep his mouth shut.

This proved to be rather difficult. In his excursions, the muscles in his jaw begin to cramp up.

Jax nearly let a string of cusses after feeling the immense pain welll up in his mouth. It was as if someone had shoved a metal plunger in his mouth.


Ducking his head, twisting and squirming his way towards the door, Jax finally broke free from the group and sprinted down the hall holding his aching mouth.

"Wuh, Oi gun go .......jek on da noo shif...scooze me!
....O! won moh thig...dos Awps er pwerry goo!..."

[ani]

LMAO!! What the heck, Jax XD Poor him! *gives him cookies*
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The sound of Xu's approval was music to Vanesse's ears and she had the SeeDs--some of them atleast--to thank for. Even Polaris wasn't that bad afterall. "Thank you very much," she said with a polite nod. However, it looked like the topic inside the office had already changed.

~*~

Stardust's eyebrow lifted as she watched the whole scene with the headmistress. She didn't want to admit this, but Xu's having an affair.

What? Stardust thought. All this time, she regarded Xu as someone who was respectable and the type that would be too smart to bite into something scandalous.

/I understand her though. She's over 40 and still no boyfriend. You can't really blame her.../ Diwata chided in.

Will you be quiet?


~*~

Hadrian couldn't stop his forehead from wrinkling as he watched the small little scene before him. He had no problem working with the Opps, but it turned out that Xu had some more serious issue at hand.

"Interesting..." He found out it funny and sad at the same time, but he knew better not to laugh. The next thing he noticed, Jax was running for the door with a locked jaw. Hadrian followed him with his eyes as the pilot went out the door and couldn't stop himself for hacking a quick laugh.

[ST]

Xu couldn't look straight at the crowd in front of her the moment the piece of paper was caught by Sho. It was as if she already had the gist of what was really going on but she was trying to hide it. She pursed her lips together in an attempt to regain some of her poise.

"I don't see what--"

"He is using his position." Polaris ended. There was a short pause inside the room. Lifting her gaze from the table, the headmistress finally got the confidence to look at the SeeDs. Her features turned grim.

"As a SeeD given a mission, that would be none of your business. There is a department that would take care of this matter and I apologize for the inconvenience. Now, you have to concentrate on the matter that it is at hand. I'm going to repeat. I want to know if all of you in here would agree to get help from the outside? So far, I only heard three people." Xu stated. "Are there only three of you her-- It was then he heard someone laugh somewhere at the back.

"Who is that?" Xu asked, rather vexed. "D'arcell?" She stood up from her seat and walked around her table, folding her arms. She looked at the hacker, almost scowling.

"Uhm...uh," Hadrian stood up straight and nodded. "I don't have a problem with the Opps. I can work with anyone, ma'am."

Xu took off her eyes from him and waited for another one to reply. She wasn't going to risk this mission anymore than she did.