Space! The final Adventure!

Lina had a new ship, a large ship whos crew had died, needed a new crew.. which is why she was at the space port.

"Food first..... crew later...." Lina told herself and headed for what she hoped was a decent restaurant. It was an alien one of course, but there was a good group of her own kind there too. There were even some people that may or may not be humans.. the ones that might have come from the mutant colony.

Lina found a secluded table and scanned the menu she was given. It had all sorts of food on it, even stuff humans could eat. Around here were people that might just need a captain. The waiter eventually came by to take her order.

"Everything in the human section please....." Lina said, handding him the menu.

The waiter coughed and blinked at her. "Um... ok miss...." He walked off, looking startled.

Lina stretched languidly and took in her surroundings. There were men and women of different races, some human, some not, at the tables... some were alone, others enjoying eachother's time. Lina mused to herself quietly while waiting for her meal..... wondering what she could do to attract and retain a potential crew. First thing off I wont mention that my former crew was eaten she thought.

Her food was coming. Several waiters carried it to her table.

"All right.... time to eat....!!!"

They hurried away, not wanting to get in her way after they set the plates and bowls on her table. Lina rubbed her hands together and dug in.

"Um, hello?" Came a voice after a few minutes of her eating.

Lina stopped and blinked. A blond was standing by the table, his long hair hanging down his back. "You eat almost as much as I do... I'm impressed." He smiled in a friendly way.

Lina blinked again.... not sure if that was a compliment... or a jab

"Can I join your table?" he asked.

"Um.... sure"

He sat down and picked up a plate with food and started eating. "Mmm.. thank you." He said.

<Zidane> ~Didnt say you could eat my food....~

<Sanosuke> He smiled and when the check came he paid for it.. making up for stealing some of her food. "My name's Gourry." He told her.

<Zidane> "Mine's Lina.... Lina Inverse... "

<Sanosuke> He smiled. "Need someone strong, caring, and dumb hanging around or are you going to tell me to get lost?"

<Zidane> "Actually.... I am looking for a crew for my ship"

<Sanosuke> "Really? Can I join?"

<Zidane> "Sure.... as long as you dont mind a little danger"

<Sanosuke> "I love danger! I'd love it! What else do you need for a crew?"

<Zidane> "A few people....."

<Zidane> "hopefully someone who knows electronics...."

<Sanosuke> "Ohh! I'll set something up!" Gourry raced off.

<Zidane> Lina shrugs to herself "Cute..."

<Sanosuke> Soon she came across a crowd of people as she walked off, and Gourry was there waving to get her attention.

<Zidane> Lina walks over to him "yeah?"

<Sanosuke> "Gathered people that need a captian! want to interview them?"

<Zidane> Lina blinks "Umm.... okay.... none of them have purple hair right?"

<Sanosuke> "One does... very long purple hair."

<Zidane> "Long is okay.... "

<Sanosuke> "Gonna talk to them?"

<Zidane> "people with short purple hair are very unlucky... anyway....."

<Sanosuke> "Want me to line them up or something?"

<Zidane> "Yeah.. one at a time is best"

<Sanosuke> "ok! You heard the captian! Line up!!"

<Sanosuke> They all got into some sort of line.. a gold dragon female in front

<Zidane> "Name please?"

<Sanosuke> "Filia." She said, her tail draging on the ground.

<Zidane> "Species?"

<Sanosuke> "Ancient Gold Dragons..."

<Zidane> "Aha.... mm... any specialties?"

<Sanosuke> "I used to be a priestess... and my speciality is making tea, praying, and hitting things with my mace."

<Zidane> "Hitting things with a mace.... huh?"

<Zidane> "Know anything about artifacts?"

<Sanosuke> She nodded. "Yep! Pots!"

<Zidane> "Okay.... pots.... hmm... tea is good.... okay... youre in..."

<Sanosuke> She smiled. "Ohh!! Thank you!" She stepped off to the side.

<Sanosuke> The next person in the line was a blond man with some sort of equipment slung over his back.

<Zidane> "Name?"

<Sanosuke> "Edgar."

<Zidane> Lina cracks her back "Species.... "

<Sanosuke> "Human."

<Zidane> "Any specialties?"

<Sanosuke> "I invent stuff! And I'm very charming, my lady." He bowed, with a smile on his face.

<Zidane> "Any good with making repairs.... or knowledge of artifacts?"

<Sanosuke> "Repairs! I'm very good with those."

<Zidane> "Great.... youre in.."

<Sanosuke> "Thank you my lady. I will not let a beauty like you down." He bowed again and walked over to Fillia,

<Zidane> "Next..." Lina says with a soft sigh

<Sanosuke> A blue skinned person in a cloak was next...

<Zidane> "Name?"

<Sanosuke> "Zelgadis."

<Zidane> "Species?" Lina asks eyeing him

<Sanosuke> "Chimera... but I prefure just human...."

<Zidane> "Human? you dont look it..."

<Sanosuke> "I'm from the mutant colony.... there are parts so hostile that they had to remake people even more there.... so they created the Chimera, part human, part other things."

<Zidane> "Aha.... okay... what kind of specialties?"

<Sanosuke> "I've been studing science and medican.... and shamanism... hopeing to find a way to make myself appear more human."

<Zidane> "Aha.... know how to cook or repair electronics? Artifacts or anything?"

<Sanosuke> "Artifacts... that's my hobby."

<Zidane> "Alright... medicines are good too.... welcome aboard"

<Sanosuke> "Thank you." He bowed some and walked off to join the others.

<Sanosuke> The next person in line was the one with long purple hair.

<Zidane> "Name?"

<Sanosuke> "Nuriko."

<Zidane> "Species?"

<Sanosuke> "Human."

<Zidane> "specialties?"

<Sanosuke> "Let's see, fashon, lifting heavey objects without breaking a sweat.... being beautiful..."

<Zidane> "Excuse me.... being beautiful is MY job...." Says someone behind Nuriko

<Sanosuke> Nuriko turned, "Well.... mmm... you certainly are beautiful..... But it happens to be part of my job description,"

<Zidane> "Hmph... there is no one more beautiful than I.."

<Zidane> ~Great... fruitcakes... just what I need....` Lina thought

<Sanosuke> "Come here...." Nuriko said to the man.

<Sanosuke> Gourry scratched his head at the scene.

<Zidane> The man moves over to Nuriko

<Sanosuke> Nuriko picked him up with ease and grinned. "Hey there cutey."

<Sanosuke> "Want me to take over for a bit Lina?" Gourry asked as Nuriko held onto the man.

<Zidane> "Umm... sure..."

<Sanosuke> Gourry looked at the line. "Um, next?"

<Zidane> "Im gonna take these three back to the ship to get them settled... " Lina says... waving at something outside of the base as she walks out

<Sanosuke> "Alright."

<Sanosuke> Filia, Edgar, and Zelgadis followed her.

<Zidane> A man with red hair and odd golden eyes approaches.. most notable is the horn on his head

<Sanosuke> "Name?"

<Zidane> "Tasuki"

<Sanosuke> "Race?"

<Zidane> "Ancient Dragon"

<Sanosuke> "Um, what can you do?"

<Zidane> "Burn stuff.... steal stuff.... astrophysics...."

<Sanosuke> "I guess that last bit will be usefull to Lina. Alright, go in. Next!"

<Zidane> Tasuki moves off scratching at his horn

<Sanosuke> Gourry looked at the black haired person who was next in line. "Name?"

<Zidane> "Zackary... but you can call me Zack I guess"

<Sanosuke> "Race?"

<Zidane> "Um.... Draz"

<Sanosuke> Gourry scratched his head, "Um, what can you do?"

<Zidane> "Not much.....just wanna get offa this base..... "

<Sanosuke> "Ok. I suppose we can just find something for you to do."

<Zidane> "I learn real fast...."

<Sanosuke> "Oh good."

<Sanosuke> Gourry decided to lead them to the ship and it wasn't till he saw Lina again that he noticed a young woman following him.

<Zidane> "Great Gourry... two more... well thats enough I guess...."

<Sanosuke> "Oh, I'm to late?" The woman asked.

<Zidane> Lina peeks past Gourry "Nope.... you wanna come along?

<Sanosuke> "Yes." She smiled warmly.

<Zidane> "Whats your name/"

<Sanosuke> "My name's Rinoa."

<Zidane> "well gotta ask.... any specialties?"

<Sanosuke> "Oh, lots of stuff. I can sing, fight, orginize, cast spells, and train dogs."

<Zidane> "spells.... thats good"

<Sanosuke> She smiled. "Thank you."

<Zidane> "Alright.... get on.... I'll brief you guys in a few "

<Sanosuke> "Thank you." She smiled and got onboared with the others.

<Zidane> Lina assigns everyone quarters and gives one warning "If the ship talks to you.... dont piss him off...."

<Sanosuke> "Talks?" Rinoa asked.

<Zidane> "This is the ONLY sentient ship in existance... at least I think so anyway.... and he's a little eccentric...."

<Sanosuke> "Ah. I'll stow my gear and get to the bridge then?"

<Zidane> Lina nods "I'll be up in a few .... gotta take care of some things in my quarters"

<Sanosuke> "Ok." Rinoa got into her room.

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis found his way to the med/science lab and started to poke around.

<Zidane> Lina heads for her quarters ... plunking down on the bed when she gets there

<Sanosuke> Gourry knocked on her door.

<Zidane> "Come in"

<Sanosuke> Gourry walked in. "I do a good job?" He asked.

<Zidane> "Yeah... cept for those two "Beautiful" people...."

<Sanosuke> "Oh.. I'm sorry Lina." He frowned.

<Zidane> "Thats okay...."

<Sanosuke> "So, what about those you got for the crew?"

<Zidane> "They're great... a nice mixed bunch"

<Sanosuke> "Yeah. Two dragons, a bunch of humans, and a draz."

<Zidane> "Oh we got another dragon?"

<Sanosuke> "Yeah. One horn... red hair... no tail."

<Zidane> "Weird.... you sure he's a dragon?

<Sanosuke> "It's what he said.... he said he was a dragon."

<Zidane> "hmm... oh well..... "

<Sanosuke> "We going to the bridge now captain?"

<Sanosuke> Gourry looked at her.

<Zidane> "Ohh.... lets go to the bridge....."

<Sanosuke> "Um, what was that?" Gourry asked as he headed for the lift.

<Zidane> "Al... just ignore him until I introduce you proper..."

<Sanosuke> "Ok..."

<Sanosuke> Everyone was waiting on the bridge for Lina.

<Zidane> "Alright guys... youre here because my old crew ditched me... "

<Sanosuke> They nodded and listened closley to her.

<Zidane> "Like I Said this ship is sentient... and he can be a pain sometimes.... ignore him best you can and stuff....."

<Sanosuke> "Why's he such a pain?" Edgar asked.

<Zidane> "Because he's a litle odd... and will talk your ear off if you respond...."

<Zidane> "Its worth it for the power this ship has though.... Anyway.... We're going to be doing an excavation.... of sorts"

<Sanosuke> "That should be good..." Zelgadis told her.

<Sanosuke> "Ohhh! I love collecting artifcats!" Fillia smiled.

<Zidane> "Well.... it would be good if this excavation wasnt..... illegal"

<Sanosuke> "Doesn't bother me." Rinoa told her.

<Zidane> "Okay then.... Al put up the map on the screen please...."

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis studied the screen, holding a notepad and taking notes.

<Zidane> "This.... is the draz homeworld..... a client of mine wants an excavation done in the southern hemisphere"

<Sanosuke> "Hmmm... lots of old artifacts from long ago.. the Draz have ignored a lot of what was there before... over 10000 years old." Zel remarked.

<Zidane> "Im not too sure the draz are gonna be happy about the dig.... but... theres nobody living there...."

<Sanosuke> "Why not ask the Draz here?" Gourry suggested, looking to Zack.

<Zidane> Zack shrugs "I havent been home in years...."

<Sanosuke> "Anyone know anything?" Gourry asked.

<Zidane> "I can call uncle Seifer!" the readhead says with a cute grin

<Sanosuke> "Uncle Seifer?"

<Zidane> "He's the draz leader"

<Sanosuke> "And he's your uncle?" Gourry blinked.

<Zidane> "But he hasnt had any children..... " Zack protests

<Sanosuke> "We gonna call him up?" Gourry asked, looking to Lina.

<Zidane> "and his brother is dead...."

<Zidane> "Sure.... Al.... can you open a channel please?" Lina asked.

<Sanosuke> The screen flaired and a blond that looked to be close to 50 now appeard on the screen.

<Zidane> "Uncle Seifer!!" Tasuki calls out to the man on the screen

<Sanosuke> The figure on screen smile some and lettering appeared, "Tasuki! It's been a while... what's up?"

<Zidane> "I wanna know if I can come and play on your homeworld for a while.."

<Sanosuke> "Why not? I let your dad so he could create you and your sibblings..."

<Zidane> "This lady wants to dig for stuff..... you mind?"

<Sanosuke> "As long as she promises not to disrupt any of the people..."

<Zidane> "I can have her transmit the map of the area she wants for you...."

<Sanosuke> Seifer nodded. "Do so..."

<Zidane> "Al... send him the map please...."

<Sanosuke> Seifer looked at the map and nodded his approval. "Alrigth..." He typed, "You have my permission to land."

<Zidane> "Thanks Uncle Seifer!!"

<Sanosuke> "No problem kido... Talk later." The image winked out.

<Sanosuke> "Uncle SeifeR?" Fillia asked.

<Zidane> "Yeah.... he's my uncle... "

<Zidane> "This used to be my father's homeworld... Im a little exited...."

<Sanosuke> "He's a draz... those things evolved from Tlugs..... mmm.. Tlugs... that makes me hungry...."

<Sanosuke> She patted her stomach. "Oh, you're the ancient black reborn?"

<Zidane> "Yep.... my dad doesnt like your kind though.... always grumbling....."

<Sanosuke> "Oh yes... the famous Val... who survived that horrible mistake..." She frowned.

<Zidane> "He's not doing so well lately... his head's funny"

<Sanosuke> "Isn't he in love with a shape changer?"

<Zidane> "Yeah..... Flea trie to keep him straight...."

<Sanosuke> "Well, I wish i could talk to your dad..."

<Zidane> "Maybe if he's feeling better... you can "

<Sanosuke> "Thanks." Filia smiled. "I was a priestess for a while so i learned a lot about the great mistake.... I wish it had never happend."

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis walked off the bridge, going back to the labs.

<Zidane> "Wanna go get somethin to eat?" Tasuki asks filia... wishing to continue the conversation

<Sanosuke> "Alright. I did bring a Tlug farm with me... they are sooo tastey...." She walked off with him.

<Zidane> "Hey guys... the replicators just shoot out gunk at the moment.... Al wont fix it.... so dont use em"

<Sanosuke> "I like fresh food anyway!" Fillia called back, leaving.

<Sanosuke> "Gunk?" Gourry asked.

<Zidane> "Yeah.... whatever the aliens that owenned this ship before me ate it"

<Zidane> "Tlugs.... she eats?" Zack groans and staggers off the bridge

<Sanosuke> "You ok?" Gourry asked Zack, running after him.

<Zidane> Lina sighs "The rest of you can get to work repairing a few things.... or bum.... whatever you like'

<Sanosuke> "I'll work on repairing!" Edgar told her and ran off to find the engine room.

<Sanosuke> Rinoa sat in a chair, tapping at controls.. she and Lina were alone on the bridge now.

<Zidane> "Al... fix the replicators.... pleeeeeease!! food is so expensive" Lina mutters at the console in front of her

<Sanosuke> "Why not just ask me..." Came an male voice that annoyed her all the time....

<Zidane> "Xellos.... because I know if I ask you.... you'll expect my eternal gratitude...." Lina says hotly

<Sanosuke> "But I can fix them Lina..."

<Sanosuke> "Who's he?" Rinoa aked.

<Sanosuke> asked^

<Zidane> "This is Xellos... someone I picked up by accident..."

<Sanosuke> "Green goo can be tastey." Xellos agreed, leaning on the view screen as if he weas leaning on the comp.

<Sanosuke> "I didn't see him here before.." Rinoa blinked.

<Zidane> "He comes and goes as he pleases....."

<Sanosuke> "Aww.. you don't like me?" Xellos faked hurt at the computer.

<Sanosuke> "Do I now? Do you feel this?" xellos put his hand through the main screen, whithout breaking anything... it was almost as if he was a ghost.

<Sanosuke> Xellos pulled his hand back out and walked over to Lina, sitting in her chair.

<Sanosuke> "Probably just as fun too..." Xellos snickered.

<Zidane> Lina turns pink "Quiet Al!"

<Sanosuke> Xellos vanished from her chair.

<Sanosuke> Rinoa blinked. "what the?"

<Zidane> "Just ignore them.... both!!"

<Sanosuke> "Um, I'll try."

<Sanosuke> Soon they had arrivded at the Draz homeworld.

<Zidane> "Cloak and take us down....... please"

<Sanosuke> Everyone got back up to the bridge.

<Zidane> "Okay.... we're going down to start the dig....."

<Sanosuke> "All of us going down?"

<Sanosuke> Gourry asked

<Zidane> "Whole ship is... he can land....."

<Sanosuke> "I mean, out there onto the ground."

<Zidane> "Oh... well I need someone to sone or two to stay behind for sensor sweeps"

<Sanosuke> "I'll stay here." Rinoa told her.

<Zidane> "Anyone else want to volunteer?"

<Sanosuke> "I'll stay too..." Edgar told her, "I'm good with tech stuff.

<Zidane> "Alright.... thank you..... the rest of you meet in the cargo bay in 10 minutes"

<Sanosuke> "Yes captain."

<Sanosuke> The crew assembled themselves pretty fast in the cargo bay,

<Zidane> "Great guys..... you seem exited .... at least I hope you would be...."

<Sanosuke> "I am." Gourry told her.

<Sanosuke> Filia looked over at Tasuki. "Excited?"

<Zidane> "One more thing.... if a guy with short purple hair and... a big smile asks you if you want help.... dont agree..... its a bad thing to make a deal with him..."

<Sanosuke> ".... ano?" Filia glanced at Lina.

<Zidane> "A guy with short purple hair..... he's some weird interspacial being.... "

<Sanosuke> "That... that..... namagomi MAZOKU!!!!!!" Fillia grabbed out her mace. "WHERE IS HE????"

<Zidane> "I guess.... youve met him before.... " Lina says sweating and backing up a step

<Sanosuke> "He's the reason I'm no longer a priestess!!! WHERE IS HE!!!" She was gripping her mace tightly.

<Zidane> "Well... at least Im not the only one he bothers...."

<Sanosuke> Filia eventually calmed down but didn't put her mace away. "Let's get out before I hurt the ship..." She suggested.

<Zidane> "Al open her up.... " Lina calls out and the floor pretty much gives way

<Sanosuke> Filia stumbled out onto the mostly desert terrian, shielding her eyes.

<Zidane> "Not so rough!! " Lina growls

<Sanosuke> "It's horrible to think my race did this to this world..." Fillia said, sighing next to Zack by accident.

<Zidane> "Hey.... if you guys hadnt blown those guys up.... I wouldnt exist...:

<Sanosuke> "You'd just be another tastey Tlug..." Filia drooled.

<Zidane> "Eeeh... dont look at me like that!!!"

<Sanosuke> "Tlug pie... mmmm... Tlug cakes... mmmmm.... I'm sooo hungry now."

<Zidane> "Eewwww.... stop talking about eating my ancestors!!!!"

<Sanosuke> Gourry winced a little. "Eating ancestors?"

<Zidane> "Tlugs are my ancestors... her kind eat them like candy...."

<Sanosuke> "I got a tank of them in my room. Got a nice fat breeding pair and I can take the little ones, fry them in oil... or mash them.. mmm.,.. there are a million ways to eat Tlug.... or I can just eat them raw... mmm." Filia

<Sanosuke> started telling this to Tasuki.

<Zidane> Zack shudders

<Sanosuke> Gourry put his hand on Zack's shoulder. "Going to be ok?"

<Zidane> "Im going to liberate my ancestors...." Zack mutters

<Sanosuke> "You'd better not." Fillia yelled at him, "That's my food!"

<Zidane> "I dont.... eat Tlugs filia..... Uncle Seifer is a .... tlug...."

<Zidane> "They're my ancestors...” Zack yelled “you want me to go eat yours?"

<Sanosuke> "Mine are long dead.. besides... I know you guys don't eat meat other then worms and your own nestmates..."

<Sanosuke> Filia grumbled something about no one liking good food and shuts up.

<Zidane> Zack sighs

<Sanosuke> "Which way?" Gourry asked.

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis was taking notes again.

<Zidane> "Alright.... enough arguing... lets get to work..... AL! Project the grid please......"

<Zidane> Tasuki peers at what Zelgadis is writing

<Sanosuke> Gourry blinked at teh grid as it was displayed.

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis was taking notes on where to find artifacts, and on the planet.

<Zidane> Lina points out several squares which highlight in red "Start in these...."

<Sanosuke> Gourry nodded. "What about tools?"

<Zidane> "One to a square.... be gentle.... anything you find I want to know about....

<Sanosuke> "Ok. Tools?"

<Zidane> Lina pulls out a device and a crate of tools lowers as she pushes the button.... not trusting al to lower the expensive equipment

<Sanosuke> Gourry grabbed a tool and walked off to a red space.

<Zidane> "Okay everyone... lets get going....

<Zidane> Lina grabs a few tools and heads for a square

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis got a tool as well and settled down in another red space, starting to dig.

<Zidane> Zack picks a square near Gourry's cuz thats the only person whose really talked to him

<Sanosuke> Filia gets a square away from Zack, and settled down, putting her mace away.

<Zidane> Tasuki frowns and picks a square.... and starts sifting through the dust

<Sanosuke> Filia is very careful, polishing every stone she pulled out of her little hole.

<Zidane> "I bet its down way deep...." Lina mutters to herself.....

<Sanosuke> "How deep?" Gorry asked, a;reasdy covered in dirt from the large hole he was digging.

<Zidane> "well.... you figure.... its all covered in dust and stuff from the explosion...."

<Sanosuke> "Ok..." he continued to dig, bones every once and a while showwing up in his dirt pile without him noticing.

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis was being very careful, to polishthe bones he dug up from the dirt.

<Zidane> "Ugh... I wish this was easier...." Lina grumbles.... prying some metal out of the ground "maybe I should just dragonslave the top layer off...."

<Sanosuke> "Dragonslave??" Filia blinked at her rappidly.

<Zidane> "Um.... old spell used to slay dragons....."

<Sanosuke> Gourry's shovel started to make a clanging sound as it hit something.

<Sanosuke> "SLAY DRAGONS???" Filia jumped up and got out her mace.

<Zidane> "No... back on Terra...."

<Sanosuke> "Grrr.... better not kill any dragons..."

<Sanosuke> Clang.. clang.. clang....

<Sanosuke> Gourry was hitting something in his large hole.

<Zidane> "Gourry.... whatcha got?"

<Sanosuke> "Don't know." HE blinked and set his shovel aside.

<Zidane> Lina scrabbles out of her hole and into Gourry's

<Sanosuke> There was something down there.. something that looked old.. and perhaps what she was looking for..

<Sanosuke> "Find something?" Zelgadis asked.

<Zidane> "Looks that way..... its big too..... here guys... over here help me clear around it"

<Sanosuke> "Got you." They went to work and soon it was uncovered to them, and able to get out.

<Zidane> "Hmm.... I wish I had an ancient with me to tell me what the hell this is...."

<Sanosuke> "Is this what we're after?" filia asked.

<Zidane> "Not sure..... gonna take it on board and do some scans beforeI open it...

<Sanosuke> "Alright." Together they carried it back on board and closed up the ship. Fillia headed back to her room, saying she wsa hungry.,

<Zidane> Zack whimpers "She's gonna eat.... my ancestors...."

<Sanosuke> Gourry patted Zack on the shoulder. "Calm down, she's not eating you.

<Zidane> "But... but... its the .... principal..."

<Sanosuke> Gourry frowned. "Gonna talk to her about it?"

<Zidane> "She wont listen......"

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis walked past everyone and back to his labs.

<Sanosuke> A smell of something cooking wafted through the halls from Filia's room.

<Zidane> "Al start running analytical scans please......"

<Sanosuke> Edgar looked over the thing Lina had. "Never seen anything like it my lady."

<Sanosuke> "Why'd we get this thing?" He asked.

<Zidane> "Im hoping its what im looking for...."

<Zidane> Zack sniffles and trudges off to his room.... not caring about the box

<Sanosuke> When Zack got to his room he found two people inside... the two they had all thought they had left at port.

<Zidane> "What.... are you guys doing here?"

<Sanosuke> "Um, we sort of... snuck onboard..." The one called Nuriko told him.

<Zidane> "Why...?"

<Sanosuke> "We wanted to join the crew..."

<Zidane> "Ohh... does... Lina know?"

<Sanosuke> "No.. is that a problem?"

<Zidane> "Im not sure......"

<Sanosuke> "Well, I'm Nuriko and this is Hotohori." Nuriko slapped the cute guy on the back.

<Zidane> Hotohori lets out a squeak

<Sanosuke> "Isn't he cuteeeeee?" Nuriko huggled him.

<Zidane> "Umm... I guess..."

<Sanosuke> "Can we borrow your room a little bit?"

<Zidane> "But....."

<Sanosuke> "Please? please? please?"

<Zidane> "I.... I wanted to lie down...."

<Sanosuke> "Oh, alright... We'll leave..." Nuriko dragged Hotohori for the door.

<Zidane> "No.... go head...."

<Zidane> "I'll just borrow that blonde guy's room...."

<Sanosuke> "Ok, thanks." Nuriko pushed Hotohori onto the bed and sat on him. "Have fun."

<Zidane> Zack nods..... and heads for Gourry's room.... hoping he wont mind

<Sanosuke> Nuriko purred down at Hotohori.

<Sanosuke> Gourry didn't mind at all, he liked the idea of some company.

<Zidane> "Do you mind if I borrow your bed? My stomach is churning from the thought....."

<Sanosuke> "Alright." Gourry smiled. "Glad I could help."

<Zidane> Zack flops down onto the bed...... while an interested ship opensdecides to record whats going on with Nuriko and hotohori

<Sanosuke> Nuriko was still purring ontop of Hotohori.

<Sanosuke> "A bed alone with you is nice.." Nuriko told him.

<Zidane> "umm.... what are you getting at here?"

<Sanosuke> Nuriko grinned. "What you think pretty boy?"

<Zidane> "Im.... not into..."

<Sanosuke> "Into what?"

<Zidane> "What you are trying to do..."

<Sanosuke> "Sex you mean?"

<Zidane> "Yeah.... I think..... stop...."

<Sanosuke> "Why? Why don't you like sex?"

<Zidane> "y.... youre a girl...."

<Sanosuke> "Huh? OHHH!!!!!! I see." Nuriko giggled and stripped off the dress....

<Zidane> Hotohori blinks "Y.... youre..... a .... guy?"

<Sanosuke> "Yes. You think a girl could be this pretty?"

<Zidane> "No...."

<Sanosuke> "Then why'd you think I was a girl?"

<Zidane> "I.... you .... dress...." hotohori says dazedly

<Sanosuke> "I like dressing in what girls wear, it's more pretty." Nuriko leand down close to Hotohori.

<Zidane> "Ahh.... hmm.... youre..... awful close...."

<Sanosuke> "That a problem?" Nuriko licked his nose.

<Zidane> "N.... no"

<Sanosuke> "Mmm.. what about now?" Nuriko kissed him.

<Zidane> Hotohori blinks and nearly passes out

<Sanosuke> "Mmm... so cute and warm!" Nuriko kissed him again and cuddled.

<Zidane> "You... youre very foreward..."

<Sanosuke> "Cause it's hard to find anyone.... you are human right?"

<Zidane> "Y...yes I am...'

<Sanosuke> "See? I can never find a good human man..."

<Zidane> "Uhmm.... you want me?"

<Sanosuke> "Yeah. Mmm.. you're soo cute too."

<Zidane> "Ahh... I dont... know"

<Sanosuke> "Don't know?? But there arn't that many gay guys out there!"

<Zidane> "I....."

<Sanosuke> "yes?"

<Zidane> "This is too sudden"

<Sanosuke> "Ohh... you want to get to know me better?"

<Zidane> "Yes!"

<Sanosuke> "Not much too know.. but ask away!"

<Zidane> "No no I didnt mean that way.... time .... need time..."

<Sanosuke> "Ohh... alright." Nuriko lounged on him,.

<Zidane> "and not like five minutes...."

<Sanosuke> "Got you. What you want to do then?"

<Zidane> "Ummm....."

<Sanosuke> Nuriko yawned. "I;ll fall asleep a while."

<Zidane> "Ahh.... on top of me?"

<Sanosuke> "Yeah..." Nuriko conked out.

<Zidane> Hothori blinks and sighs.... "but...."

<Sanosuke> Meanwhile.. Lina had to contact her contractor now that she knew it was the real deal.

<Zidane> "Wonder why he wants this?"

<Sanosuke> "gonan find out?" Gourry asked her, back on the bridge.

<Sanosuke> Gourry sat in a chair and made himself comfy.

<Zidane> "Yeah... gonna find out.... sound the liftoff alerts and Take us up to a standard orbit....."

<Sanosuke> "Aye aye captain!" Gourry shouted.

<Sanosuke> Everyone braced themselves.

<Zidane> "No corkscrews or loop de loops Al...."

<Sanosuke> "He does that?" Gourry asked.,

<Zidane> "Yes.... he's a pain in the rear"

<Sanosuke> "Oh... I see." Gourry blinked.

<Zidane> "Just wish he would fix the green goo problem..."

<Sanosuke> "What green goo?"

<Zidane> "The replicators...."

<Sanosuke> "Oh. We gonna call your contact now?"

<Zidane> Lina nods "Hail em please:

<Sanosuke> "Aye Aye Captain!" Gourry smiled.

<Sanosuke> The face of her contact shortly popped to life on the screen.

<Zidane> "Greetings.... I believe Ive found what you are looking for...."

<Sanosuke> "Really? Bring it to the usally spot... I'll be waiting for them."

<Zidane> "alright... make sure youve got your payment ready..."

<Sanosuke> "Yeah, if it's what we're looking for you'll get your money alright."

<Zidane> "Great...!" Lina says and rubs her hands together "See ya there...."

<Sanosuke> The screen winked out.

<Sanosuke> Gourry blinked. "How come I don't trust him?"

<Zidane> "Everyone I deal with is shady.... " Lina says with a shrug

<Sanosuke> "Oh. That sort of busness?"

<Zidane> "Anyway.... i want a complete analysis of that thing before I hand it over..... if its somethin really weird maybe I can charge more...."

<Sanosuke> "Alright. How long till we get there?"

<Zidane> "Well..... a few hours.... Im gonna have Al go half speed to give me more time "

<Sanosuke> "Ok. Should I go wake everyone up?"

<Zidane> "Hmm.... well I want to talk to Filia... she may know something...."

<Sanosuke> "Alright. She was making herself dinner I think."

<Zidane> "Hmm... who else ..... get Zelgadis too....

<Sanosuke> "I'll go get Zelgadis..." Gourry headed off the bridge.

<Zidane> Lina picks up a hard copy of the data from the initial scans and reads over them a moment

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis came back up to the bridge with Gourry.

<Zidane> Lina hands Zel the data

<Zidane> "Here.... read this over... "

<Sanosuke> Zel looked it over, furrowing what must have been his brow. "Interesting..." He muttered.

<Zidane> "Here.... lets go get some hands on....."

<Sanosuke> Zel nodded and walked over to their cargo. "Hmmm....."

<Zidane> "Doesnt look very impressive anyway...."

<Sanosuke> "It is like nothing I've ever seen before."

<Zidane> "Ancients always have a way of making interesting things look ordinary..."

<Sanosuke> "Yes, I suppose so... but there is no recored on it."

<Zidane> "Lets see if we can open it up?"

<Sanosuke> Zel nodded and ran his fingers over it.

<Zidane> "Why does every artifact have to appear seamless?" Lina complains

<Sanosuke> "Perhaps because that is the intent?"

<Zidane> "What you mean its not openable?"

<Sanosuke> "We might not be able to open it..."

<Zidane> "If we cant open it that means the client cant open it either..."

<Sanosuke> "Maybe your client is a collector?”

<Zidane> "Him.... a collector.... hah...."

<Zidane> "We cant scan inside.... cant open it up... what you think's in there?"

<Sanosuke> "We'll find out when we deliver I suppose. And I have no idea what's in there."

<Zidane> "I dont like handing stuff over that .... is questionable in nature....."

<Sanosuke> Zel sat down. "Then what do you wish to do?"

<Zidane> "Stall for time until we find out what it is..... it wouldnt be the first time I ran off with an important artifact....." Lina says and pats the wall

<Sanosuke> "So that's the sort of deal you run..."

<Zidane> "Can you blame me?"

<Sanosuke> "Well... I don't know.... what happend when you ran off with the ship?"

<Zidane> "Well we found him.... and they couldnt figure out how to get him open...."

<Sanosuke> "Then what?"

<Zidane> "So we went back to camp.... I snuck back later.... figured it out and boarded... then he just took off... "

<Sanosuke> Zel nodded slowly.

<Zidane> "Im not sure who stole who..."

<Sanosuke> "The ship took you away?"

<Zidane> Lina nods "Nearly flew me into a red giant sun... big dummy... I believe thats where the planet of his origin was"

<Sanosuke> "A sun that exapanded and took the homeworld?"

<Zidane> Lina nods "Seemed that way.... well he just sat there... and wouldnt move.... so I had to figure out how to translate his language"

<Sanosuke> "And then what did you come up with?"

<Zidane> "What you hear talking to me now and then.... an eccentric ship.... he spent aeons burried and talking to himself...."

<Sanosuke> "I see.... old age is bound to make one nuty so I hear..."

<Zidane> "Yeah.... but he's a powerful ship... and hasnt killed me yet...

<Sanosuke> "That's good to hear."

<Sanosuke> Gourry blinked at the controls. "Hey Lina, are we there yet?"

<Zidane> "MMm.... I hope not..."

<Sanosuke> "You sure? What's with these approuch paterns?"

<Zidane> "Shoot.... who's comin after me?"

<Sanosuke> "Wouldn't that be all alert sirens? I think we're just getting to where we are going..."

<Zidane> "I thought I told you half speed Al...."

<Sanosuke> "Maybe he didn't listen?"

<Sanosuke> "We going to land?" Zelgadis asked.

<Zidane> "I guess we have no choice...."

<Sanosuke> "Who do you want going down?"

<Zidane> "The tough lookin Draz guy... and you definately.."

<Sanosuke> "I'll go wake him." Gourry rushed off.

<Sanosuke> "Alright. I'll be ready." Zelgadis nodded.

<Zidane> "Hell... Gourry too.... need some big scary thug like guys

<Sanosuke> "I think Filia with her mace is scary enough...."

<Zidane> "Hmm.... we can just leave Rinoa here... to keep Al company.... along with that other dragon"

<Sanosuke> "And Edgar too?"

<Zidane> "Yeah edgar too"

<Zidane> "He can work on the replicators while we're gone...."

<Sanosuke> Gourry pulled Zack up to the bridge. "We down yet?" He asked.

<Zidane> "You'll feel it when we're down...." Lina says

<Sanosuke> "Ok."

<Sanosuke> He sat down and waited.

<Zidane> The ship lurches and shudders ever so slightly .... and lina frowns

<Sanosuke> "Something wrong?" Zelgadis asked.

<Zidane> "I think we're upside down...."

<Sanosuke> "That's not good....." Zel winced.

<Zidane> "Al... fix it.... now.... "

<Sanosuke> Everyone clung to something.

<Zidane> The ship suddenly seems to roll to the left.... and Lina who is caught unawares nearly goes flying

<Sanosuke> Gourry reached out and caught her to steady.

<Zidane> "Thanks.... stupid ship.."

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis and Fillia helped Lina with the item as they got off the ship.. the other two trailing behind.

<Zidane> "So we're here"

<Sanosuke> A little ways off Lina could see her contact... his black hair whiped back in a pony tail.

<Zidane> "There he is.... c'mon guys"

<Sanosuke> The figure came closer, carrying two casses. He set one down before Lina. "Hand over the item please..." He said, asking nicely.

<Zidane> "I had a little time to think on the way here....."

<Sanosuke> He kept his hand on the case, his eyes flashing. "Best not to back out... I don't want to see what will happen if you do."

<Zidane> "I wanna know what it is..... we couldnt scan or open it...."

<Sanosuke> "All you need to know is that you are being paid well for this artifact. As to what it is even I do not know, I have my orders from another."

<Zidane> "Ohh.. so this is getting passed along eh? How much are YOU getting paid for it?"

<Sanosuke> "I will not discuss such maters with others... Please, hang over the item and take your money."

<Zidane> "What do you guys think?"

<Sanosuke> "Money sounds good." Gourry said.

<Zidane> "Who are you taking this to anyway.... maybe I want to take it to him myself?"

<Sanosuke> "He will not see anyone outside of me... as far as you are concerned I might be lying and this is just for myself, got it?"

<Zidane> "Got it...."

<Sanosuke> He picked up the one case and handed it to her.

<Zidane> Lina frowns and takes it "Another mystery unsolved...." ~should I just take him out?~

<Sanosuke> The man took hold of the artifact and attached some things to it before handing her the other case.... and halling the item off.

<Zidane> "Alright guys.... back to the ship so I can dole out your share...."

<Sanosuke> Gourry started back, then looked at Zack who was still standing there. "Something wrong?"

<Zidane> "He was a Draz.... "

<Sanosuke> "Huh? He was? Draz can tell other Draz appart?"

<Zidane> "Yeah..... we shouldnt have given that to him..."

<Sanosuke> "How come?" They got onto the ship.

<Zidane> "Its a bad thing...."

<Sanosuke> "Why?"

<Zidane> "Not sure...."

<Sanosuke> Gourry shrugged and walked on to his room.

<Sanosuke> meanwhile.. the Draz with the artifact was entering what looked like a comand-control throne room.

<Zidane> "You got it without problems?"

<Sanosuke> "Yes. She seemed a little reluctent but, I managed to persuade her." The draz smiled at the figure in the shadows.

<Zidane> "The gave you no trouble?"

<Sanosuke> "Nope.... and they did have a draz in their party.... and an ancient gold dragon..." He grinned even more.

<Zidane> "a gold..... dragon?"

<Sanosuke> He nodded. "Yes... she was with them...."

<Zidane> "Should have killed it..."

<Sanosuke> "If I had they would have taken the artifact and split..."

<Zidane> "I would have reclaimed it..."

<Sanosuke> "I did slap a locator in with their money.... in the case... we can find them if that is your wish."

<Zidane> "Good... Gold dragons.... as soon as I get what I need they'll be the first to go..."

<Sanosuke> "What else do you need?"

<Zidane> "A few things... "

<Zidane> The figure stands and moves towards tamahome and the artifact

<Sanosuke> "What do you wish of me?" Tamahome got out of his kneeling position.

<Zidane> "What do I wish of you? You arent my slave..."

<Sanosuke> "I know that." The draz grinned some.

<Zidane> "We will work on opening and examining the artifact later..."

<Sanosuke> "Alright." Tamahome punched a few buttons on his control pad and gentle had the artifact set down on the ground.

<Zidane> "Right now.... there are other more pressing thing..."

<Sanosuke> "Such as?"

<Zidane> The man grins "You...."

<Sanosuke> Tamahome grinned back and got closer to him.

<Zidane> "Youre going to help me carry out my father's dreams... and my own as well... " He purrs and leans down to kiss Tamahome

<Sanosuke> Tamahome kissed him back. "Didn't one of those dreams envolve wiping out my race though?"

<Zidane> "Your race can not be blamed for what happened... I will not whipe out an innocent species.... but the golds.... they did it purposefully.... maliciously...

<Sanosuke> He nodded. "We will pay them back...." He reached up and stroked his lover's horn... purring.

<Zidane> The blonde purrs and pulls Tamahome close

<Sanosuke> The draz pressed against his chest, kissing under his chin.

<Zidane> "Mmm... my beloved"

<Sanosuke> "My love...." Tamahome curled his fingers lovingly around the blonde's shoulders.

<Zidane> "Come.... lets go pay a visit to our quarters"

<Sanosuke> Tamahome grinned. "Was hoping you were thinking that."

<Zidane> "Of course..."

<Sanosuke> The draz headed off with his lover.

<Sanosuke> Gourry yawned on the bridge.

<Zidane> "Tired Gourry?"

<Sanosuke> "A little... Any idea what that draz wanted with that artifact Lina?"

<Zidane> "No clue.... and no clue why I had to dig secretly on his own planet...."

<Sanosuke> "That is strange.... Maybe he was an outcast or something?"

<Zidane> "Perhaps...."

<Sanosuke> "Any idea what it might have been?"

<Zidane> "I want to grill Filia a little later.... perhaps she knows some things ..... about what that might have been..."

<Sanosuke> "Why not go ask her now?"

<Zidane> "She's probably stuffing her face again.... and Im tired anyway...."

<Sanosuke> "Alright. Goon night Lina..."

<Zidane> "See ya when I wake up.... " Lina says and pats the guy on the head before retiring to her room

<Sanosuke> Just as she was getting in her bed she saw Xellos sitting on her chair.

<Zidane> "I dont need this....."

<Sanosuke> "What's not to need Lina? Oh, and you might have just helped to doom a race to extintion..."

<Zidane> "What do you mean....?"

<Sanosuke> "It was a weapon, and that Draz took it to his lover..."

<Zidane> "Oh great... what kind of weapon.... biological?"

<Sanosuke> "Sore Wa Himitsu Desu...." He grinned and got up from his chair.

<Zidane> "No wait... seriously....what was it?"

<Sanosuke> Xellos sat on her bed. "I already said all I will say on it."

<Zidane> "Can I get you to say more?"

<Sanosuke> "Only that you should talk to the dragons.,..."

<Zidane> "Which ones?"

<Sanosuke> He vanished....

<Zidane> Lina sighs

<Zidane> "Least he didnt paw me...."

<Sanosuke> Perhaps he meant talk to the two dragons on board?

<Zidane> "I guess I better do this now...."

<Zidane> Lina gets up and groans "no rest for the wicked...."

<Sanosuke> Filia was cooking in her room again, the smell wafting down the hall.

<Zidane> Lina gets up and goes down to Filia's room and knocks on the door

<Sanosuke> "Commmeee innnnn!!" She called cheerfully.

<Zidane> Lina enters "Hey filia.... I Want to talk to you"

<Sanosuke> She was cooking something in oil.. and across the room was a large tank filled with squirmy things, mostly little but two that seemed to be about dog sized.

<Sanosuke> "What about Lina?"

<Zidane> "Bout what we dug up today"

<Sanosuke> "Hmmm.... I'm not too sure myself. Would you like some tea?"

<Zidane> "Yes.... tea would be nice...."

<Zidane> "Could it have been something that would be able to destroy an entire species?"

<Sanosuke> "It's human safe." Filia poored a cup and went back to her cooking. "Destroy an entire species? I can't think of anything that can do that... only a planet killer can do that. Several races have devoloped Planet killers.

<Zidane> "Did the ancient dragons have anything like that?"

<Sanosuke> "My race did..." She frowned. "Not a full planet destroyer.. but one that was made to wipe out all life.... it's what we used on the ancient homeworld during the great mistake. Only things like Tlugs survived... they

<Sanosuke> were nature's great survivors...

<Zidane> "Okay... why did you destroy the ancients anyway?"

<Sanosuke> "I don't know.... It had somethign to do with our war with the T'lza...."

<Zidane> "You dont know anything?"

<Sanosuke> She shook her head. "I was only a temple priestess... most of my race is ignorant of the great mistake... I learned it by accident myself.... because of that... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr."

<Zidane> "Your friend just paid me a visit.... said that whatever we gave that Draz guy has endangered the existance of a whole species....

<Sanosuke> "What?? He was here?????? AHH!!!!" Fillia dumped her frying stuff into a bowl of noodles and started to eat rappidly.

<Zidane> "Yes... in my room..... do you think anyone on your planet could give me more details?"

<Sanosuke> "Well, we can try one of our worlds.... They might know something, but I'm not sure they'll tell anyone."

<Zidane> "Well they will unless they want another species to cease existing"

<Sanosuke> "The elders are very stingy, but I can try."

<Sanosuke> She had a little left of her food in her bowl... fried tlug in noodle soup.

<Zidane> "Do those things taste that good?" Lina asks and moves over to the aquarium to tap on it

<Sanosuke> "Mmm... to my kind. They are such a delicacy...."

<Sanosuke> one of the big ones in the tank moved against the glass at her tapping.

<Zidane> "But... they're gross...."

<Sanosuke> "Gross? How so?" Fillia finished off what was in her bowl.

<Zidane> "Nevermind..."

<Sanosuke> Meanwhile, Zelgadis was working in the lag again.

<Zidane> The young ancient dragon is watching him quietly.... finding this man interesting for some reason or other

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis turned to him. "Hello again Tasuki."

<Zidane> "Hello... whatcha doin?'

<Sanosuke> "Studing... I'm always trying to learn new things... maybe find a way to become more human."

<Zidane> "Why would you wanna change the way you look?"

<Sanosuke> "Because.... humans don't think I'm another human... it.... gets to me." Zel frowned and sat down.

<Zidane> "But I think you look good"

<Sanosuke> "Really?" Zel blinked, "But I'm part made of rock.... how can that be good?"

<Zidane> "I think its pretty...."

<Sanosuke> "But it's hard..." He frowned some. "They created Chimera like me to be human on the inside with all basic human drives and wants.. but with bodies that wern't expected to reproduce even though they are amotomicly

<Sanosuke> correct..."

<Zidane> "Ohh... so thats your problem?"

<Sanosuke> He nodded. "Yes. It is a large problem..."

<Zidane> "No sex.... "

<Zidane> "Thats gotta suck.... tho I wouldnt know...."

<Sanosuke> "You were born much like I was... in a lab.... do you get the urges?"

<Zidane> "Yeah... but my dad expects me to .... sleep with one of the others...."

<Sanosuke> "To reproduce more of your kind?"

<Zidane> "Yes... but.... I think I'll just opt for artificial means...."

<Sanosuke> "Because they are sibblings to you?"

<Zidane> "Yes...."

<Zidane> "Plus... I dont know.... I think I take after my dad a little..."

<Sanosuke> "In what way?"

<Zidane> "Well... he has a male that is his companion...."

<Sanosuke> "That's the shape shifter, correct?"

<Zidane> "Yes...."

<Sanosuke> "That off course means that it just chose to look like a male.... since Shape Shifters are not sexed." Zel looked thoughtful. "What about the rest of your family?"

<Zidane> "I had a brother that ran off.... the rest pretty much stayed at home..... "

<Sanosuke> "What about you?"

<Zidane> "I stowed away with uncle seifer"

<Sanosuke> "Uncle Seifer... just how did the leader of the Draz become your uncle?"

<Zidane> "Well.... he and my father were.... enemies for a time.... Seifer commandeered his ship..."

<Sanosuke> "So, how did it come to pass that they became friends enough for you to call him uncle?"

<Zidane> "Well.... I dont think they ever really became friends...."

<Sanosuke> "Then.... how did you become like a nephew?"

<Zidane> "Well.... we bit him a lot... and he hung from the ceiling... "

<Zidane> “And I managed to cling to him long enough to get on board his ship.... “

<Sanosuke> "What happend then?"

<Sanosuke> Seifer's ship left port before Val's did... so the Draz and his human lover didn't relize that one of Val's children had slipped onboard...

<Zidane> Seifer feels something tugging at his pant leg about an hour after leaving port

<Sanosuke> Seifer blinked and looked down. Then nearly jumped but he didn't want to hurt what was clinging to him.

<Zidane> "I gotta potty..." The child whines

<Sanosuke> /Wh.. what are you doing here?/ Seifer asked him, a little in shock that one of Val's kids had snuck on board without him knowing.

<Zidane> "Wanted to come with Uncle Seifer...."

<Sanosuke> /But, won't your dad be worried child?/

<Zidane> "too many... he doesnt pay attention..."

<Sanosuke> /Oh. I see. And which child are you?/ Seifer sat down in his chair.

<Zidane> "Tasuki... " the boy says and tries to climb up into Seifer's lap

<Sanosuke> Seifer let him climb up. /Didn't you need to use the bathroom?/

<Zidane> "Yeah.... got one?

<Sanosuke> /Of course./ Seifer stood up, picking the child up with him. /Here you go/ Seifer opened the door.

<Zidane> The boy goes in and closes the door so he can do his thin

<Sanosuke> Seifer headed to his room and woke Squall by shaking him.

<Zidane> Squall tries to shoo Seifer away /Tired...../

<Sanosuke> /One of Val's kids stowed away love.../

<Zidane> /Aww.... really?/

<Sanosuke> /Yes. Tasuki.... said he wanted to come with me.../

<Zidane> /Val's gonna come after us screaming kidnap...../

<Sanosuke> /If he even notices..../ Seifer sighed and headed back to the bathroom to get Tasuki.

<Zidane> Tasuki pops out of the bathroom and clings to Seifer's leg as soon as he sees him

<Sanosuke> Seifer picked him up and carried him to where Squall was, sitting down in his chair again.

<Zidane> "Aww.... he's cute.... are we going to keep him then?"

<Sanosuke> Seifer patted Tasuki on the head. /Keep?/ He blinked at Squall.

<Zidane> "You know.... we going to give him back to his father?"

<Sanosuke> /If his dad comes looking..../ Seifer looked down at the child on his lap.

<Zidane> "So your poppa doesnt notice you huh?" Squall asks the kid an pats him on the jead

<Sanosuke> /That's what he said... he's got 9 sibblings.... poor kid. Having one was bad enough for me and technicly I ate my other sibblings..../

<Zidane> Tasuki whimpers and cuddles against Seifer's chest "Poppa said he wanted more kids...."

<Sanosuke> /MORE???/ Seifer nearly fell over. /More more... biting.. ohh.... AHHH!!!!/

<Zidane> Tasuki falls asleep after a time on Seifer's lap.... purring contentedly

<Zidane> "well... looks like we have a kid..... for a time..."

<Sanosuke> Seifer sighed, stroking the sleeping child's hair. /I have no idea... what to do.. with... a child.../

<Zidane> /Take care of him of course...../

<Sanosuke> /How do you take care of.... a child?"

<Sanosuke> /

<Zidane> /Thats right.... you guys just leave em squirming around in a nest..... I'll teach you/

<Sanosuke> /Alright. How?/

<Zidane> /Well when situations come up.... I'll tell you how to deal with them/

<Sanosuke> /Ok.. how do I deal with this?/ He pointed at teh sleeper in his lap.

<Zidane> /put him to bed... /

<Sanosuke> /Bed? OUR bed?/

<Zidane> /Until we can get him one of his own ..... yes/

<Sanosuke> /Alright.... alright.../ Seifer picked up the child and climbed into bed.

<Zidane> Squall climbs in and grins at Seifer /You dont like this too much do ya..../

<Sanosuke> /Well.. at least he isn't biting me... they all used to./

<Zidane> /They've grown up... thats why/

<Sanosuke> /Hmm.... their teeth are sharper then Val's..../

<Zidane> /probably because Val is sooo old..../

<Sanosuke> /Good thing too.. remember when he clamped down around my neck during that fight over ten years ago?/

<Zidane> /Yeah.... he's nuts... poor bastard.../

<Sanosuke> /He's got a shapeshifter to love and look after him at least./ Seifer set the sleeping child next to him and sighed.

<Zidane> Tasuki curls up into a cute little ball and starts snoring

<Sanosuke> Seifer smiled slightly at the sleeper.

<Zidane> /I told you I wanted kids.... lets give him a try... we can always hand him over if things get too rough/

<Sanosuke> /Alright.... or if Val comes looking.../

<Sanosuke> Flea sat next to the sleeping Val, just watching him and keeping an eye on the ship.

<Zidane> One of the children scratches at the door to the room

<Sanosuke> Flea got up and opened the door. "Yes?"

<Zidane> "I cant find Tasuki... :

<Sanosuke> "Tasuki? He's got to be somewhere... you look all over?"

<Zidane> "Uh huh.."

<Sanosuke> "Well? You sure he isn't hiding?"

<Zidane> "Yeah... i looked everywhere..."

<Sanosuke> "Wait... you telling me he's... missing?"

<Zidane> "Yeah... not on ship...."

<Sanosuke> Flea winced. "Oh dear...."

<Zidane> "Get him back!!"

<Sanosuke> Flea went over to Val and poked him. "Darling?"

<Zidane> "yeh?'

<Sanosuke> "Nakago told me Tasuki's missing..."

<Zidane> "Missing? You sure? Round em up and count...."

<Sanosuke> "Ok." Flea picked up the child and walked out, calling all the children to him.

<Zidane> The children swarm Flea.... asking why he called them

<Sanosuke> "Stand still a momment." He set Nakago down and started counting.

<Zidane> The kids find it very hard to stand still

<Sanosuke> Flea sighed. "Stand still and everone gets a cookie."

<Zidane> "Yay!!!

<Sanosuke> Flea smiled and started counting again.

<Zidane> The kids still fidget a little... but hold still long enough to be counted

<Sanosuke> Flea frowned. "9..." He quickly got out nine cookies and gave them to the kids before going back to his room.

<Sanosuke> "9...." He said again there with Val.

<Zidane> "Nine.... where..... is .... he?"

<Sanosuke> "Maybe... he got left at the station?"

<Zidane> "But how could we have left him...." Val says pretty much panicking

<Sanosuke> "Let's go back and find him..." Flea tapped in the directions.

<Zidane> "Oh gods if anything happened to him....."

<Sanosuke> "Shhh... I'm sure he's fine..."

<Zidane> Little tasuki squirms a little and his head pops up

<Sanosuke> Seifer opened his eyes and looked at the little dragon. /Awake again kido?/

<Zidane> "Yeah... I wanna eat!"

<Sanosuke> /What do you eat?/

<Zidane> 'Food'

<Sanosuke> /What type though?/ Seifer got up.

<Zidane> "Anything"

<Sanosuke> /Alright. Follow me./ Seifer headed off to the small dining area.

<Zidane> The child tags along getting under Seifer's feet as he walks

<Sanosuke> Seifer picked him up and sat him down at teh table, fixing bowls of food...

<Zidane> tasuki tries to crawl up Seifer's leg

<Sanosuke> Seifer blinked and let him.

<Zidane> "I wanna see...."

<Sanosuke> /See what?/

<Zidane> "what you doing"

<Sanosuke> /getting you food./ Seifer set the bowls down. All of them were plant and fungus dishes but for the one filled with little worms.

<Zidane> "What'r these?" Tasuki asks... pointing at the squirmy things

<Sanosuke> /Worms. They're the only other thing that lived through the destruction period. /

<Zidane> Tasuki reaches for them

<Sanosuke> Seifer gave him the bowl.

<Zidane> Tasuki puts a handfull in his mouth and crunches happily

<Sanosuke> /Taste good?/

<Zidane> "Yeah!!" Tasuki says with his mouth full

<Sanosuke> Seifer smiled and picked up a bowl of what looked like mush... eating it himself.

<Zidane> "mmmmy...."

<Sanosuke> Seifer crunched on the plant mush and patted Tasuki. /You should at least drop your father a line to say you're ok./

<Zidane> "But he will want me home...."

<Sanosuke> /Well.... just say you're staying where you want for now... or something./

<Zidane> "Mm.... but...."

<Sanosuke> /but?/

<Zidane> "Okay.... so he doesnt worry...."

<Sanosuke> /I bet he is worrying now..../

<Zidane> "Okay..."

<Sanosuke> /Gonna finish eating?/

<Zidane> Tasuki nods and shovels the food down

<Sanosuke> /Alright. Tell me when you're ready to send a note to your dad./

<Zidane> "Now I guess.... "

<Sanosuke> /ok./ Seifer picked him up and headed to the command room.

<Sanosuke> /here... send him a note./ Seifer sat down in the chair.

<Zidane> Tasuki looks over the keys

<Sanosuke> They were rather standered keys.

<Zidane> The boy types out a note and blinks..... "how do I send?"

<Sanosuke> Seifer hit the send button.

<Sanosuke> Meanwhile

<Sanosuke> Flea got back to the ship from searching the station and noticed that they had a messege waiting.

<Zidane> Val is in a panic still..... shaking and cursing at himself

<Sanosuke> Flea played the messege and blinked, snapping Val out of it to read.

<Zidane> "What.... Flea?

<Sanosuke> "Read the messege."

<Zidane> Val reads it and blinks "he.... he ....... HE HAS MY CHILD???"

<Sanosuke> Flea frowned and read it again.

<Zidane> "Dont worry poppa and momma flea... Im with uncle Seifer... ' val growls out

<Sanosuke> "How did that happen? Seifer always clung to the ceiling around the kids..."

<Zidane> "He stole my kid... he kidnapped him.... thats how it happened...."

<Sanosuke> "You sure about that Val?"

<Zidane> "Why else would my darling be there?"

<Sanosuke> "Same reason I wound up on an explorer ship once... hitched a ride cause I was currous."

<Zidane> "He wouldnt hitch a ride with a Draz..."

<Sanosuke> "You've seen how the kids act around him..."

<Zidane> Val just growls in response

<Sanosuke> Flea sighed and took a step back, almost tripping over Nakago who he didn't know was there.

<Sanosuke> "Woops... Sorry." Flea bent down to look at Nakago.,

<Zidane> "Wheres Tasuki?"

<Sanosuke> "With uncle Seifer it seems."

<Zidane> "I wanna go too!!!"

<Sanosuke> "Why?"

<Zidane> "Want to be with Tasuki..."

<Sanosuke> "How come?"

<Zidane> "Cuz... he pay attention to me...."

<Sanosuke> "Know why he might be with uncle Seifer? Val thinks he was kidnapped."

<Zidane> "Cuz you dont pay attention to him enough"

<Sanosuke> "Huh?" Flea glanced at Val.

<Zidane> Val blinks

<Zidane> "Dont pay enough attention?"

<Sanosuke> "That's what Nakago thinks..."

<Zidane> "But I pay them plenty of attention...."

<Sanosuke> "Nakago... explain please.." Flea looked back at him.

<Zidane> "You play with us all... not one on one..."

<Sanosuke> Flea picked Nakago up and sat down. "Think Tasuki just left then?"

<Zidane> "I still cant believe.... my son would just... leave...."

<Sanosuke> "Nakago.." Flea asked, "Would you have done such a thing?"

<Zidane> "Yeah.... wanna go to someone who can pay attention to just me...."

<Sanosuke> Flea frowned. "I guess Tasuki didn't get kidnapped."

<Zidane> "Can I go somewhere?" Nakago whines

<Sanosuke> Flea rocked him. "When you get older... you can go anywhere you want..."

<Zidane> "Wanna go now .... momma flea...."

<Sanosuke> "But.. your dad's gonna get all upset."

<Zidane> "So.... "

<Sanosuke> Flea frowned. "But.... I don't like it when he's upset."

<Zidane> "Does he hurt you momma flea?" Nakago asks... picking up on his emotions

<Sanosuke> "No, why would you think that? I just don't like it when he's angry...."Flea frowned.

<Zidane> "He is scary sometimes...."

<Sanosuke> "I know..." Flea glanced at Val.

<Zidane> Val is grinding his teeth and writing a reply to Seifer....

<Sanosuke> Seifer was half asleep, still holding Tasuki on his lap when the messege got there.

<Zidane> Tasuki bounces on Seifer's lap as the incoming message chime tolls

<Sanosuke> Seifer opened his eyes and read the messege.

<Zidane> "Its confusing me...." Tasuki whines at his father's ranting message

<Sanosuke> Seifer read over the messege.

<Sanosuke> /Val seems to have lost it.../

<Sanosuke> Seifer patted Tasuki. /You still want to stay here?/

<Zidane> "Yeah!!!

<Sanosuke> /Alright then./

<Sanosuke> Flea put Nakago to bed and sighed when he went back to Val.

<Zidane> "Flea... my children dont love me....." val pouts

<Sanosuke> "Sure they do love... just one or two are having problems.. they are all individuals."

<Zidane> "Should I just let them go?"

<Sanosuke> "I'm not the best one to ask since my kind doesn't have parents this way..."

<Zidane> Val nods "Im just.... gonna let em go... they dont love me..."

<Sanosuke> "I love you..."

<Zidane> "I know you love me..."

<Sanosuke> Flea smiled. "And I think most of the kids are happy."

<Zidane> "well.... they are all different like you said"

<Sanosuke> "Yes... I think it's just those two..."

<Zidane> "We'll have to track Tasuki down later... he has a small obligation to his species...."

<Sanosuke> "True..." Flea sat on Val's lap and snuggled with him... so neither noticed the slight departure warning.

<Zidane> "mmm.... Flea....." Val purrs softly

<Sanosuke> "Val.. Mmm." Flea kissed him and cuddled tightly...

<Zidane> "Lets take a nap huh?"

<Sanosuke> "Mmm, sure." Flea smiled, still not noticing the slight beeping as he carried Val off to their room.

<Zidane> Nakago's tiny craft drifts helplessly in space for a time... which scares Nakago a bit

<Sanosuke> Soon a slight landing alarm went off.. and he saw the ruins of a base or colony of some kind.. partly overgrown by plants.

<Zidane> Nakago presses his face against the porthole of the ship as his ship maneuvers

<Sanosuke> It landed in a small feild of plants and slowly opened. The air was breathible.

<Zidane> Nakago crawls out and looks around "Nobody here...."

<Sanosuke> It looked like a destroyed colony of some sort.... maybe a few years old by now.

<Zidane> "Helooooooooo?"

<Sanosuke> No answer but the wind... but there still seemed to be a power sorce.. as a few smashed terminals still flashed light.

<Zidane> Nakago begins to wander around the ruins

<Sanosuke> It soon dawned on him that this had once been a Draz colony... blue blood was congelied on some of the walls.

<Zidane> Nakago shudders and moves to one of the terminals... his skilled young fingers poking at the buttons

<Sanosuke> It sprang to life... spouting giberish, or was it just the Draz tongue?

<Zidane> Nakago frowns "I dont understand..."

<Sanosuke> The keys were in standered speak.. and soon the messege turned to something understanble. "State busness." it said.

<Zidane> "Can you tell me what happened?"

<Sanosuke> "Colony... attacked..... bzzzt..."

<Zidane> "Anyone alive?"

<Sanosuke> "No adults present.... bzztt..."

<Zidane> "Kids?"

<Sanosuke> "One cocoon...."

<Zidane> "Cocoon?

<Sanosuke> "Bzztt.... one detected.... location, nesting area.... one floor bellow."

<Zidane> "how old?"

<Sanosuke> "Bzztt.... information unknown... bzztt..."

<Zidane> "Okay... well... I'll go see then..."

<Sanosuke> The path was not easy... there were a few skelatons covered in some sort of mold littering the corridor, but they could be stepped over.

<Zidane> Nakago shivers and heads for where he hopes the nesting room is

<Sanosuke> It smelled awful in the area... and many plants and molds covered the place.. but amid it all he spotted a large cocoon in one of the slots that seemed to have been a nest at one point.

<Zidane> Nakago goes over to the cocoon and pokes at it experimentally

<Sanosuke> It was quiet hard, and felt warm. Still alive...

<Zidane> "Youre alive... should I smush you like daddy always yells about?"

<Sanosuke> It was rather large... a little bigger then Nakago was.

<Zidane> "But I want someone to talk to...."

<Sanosuke> HE could try talking to the computer again.. or wait for it to hatch.

<Zidane> Nakago sighs "You hurry up...."

<Sanosuke> It might take a while... and all there was to eat around was plants and molds.

<Zidane> Nakago decides to go and find something to eat..... since he cant just sit there

<Sanosuke> The computer was a boring compainion, but it taught him anything he wanted to know... and for the next year he was rather alone, eating the plants that grew all around him.

<Zidane> "I would die for a piece of meat...." Nakago groans as he digs at a plant to get its roots

<Sanosuke> Some worms fell through his fingers as he digged.

<Zidane> Nakago catches one of the worms and examines it

<Zidane> "Mm... you look like meat...."

<Sanosuke> It looked plump and tastey.. and edible.

<Zidane> Nakago eats it.... not caring that it wiggles its way down

<Sanosuke> It tasted pretty good.... must have been feeding on all the right things.

<Zidane> "I wish he would hatch.... soon... Im lonely....."

<Sanosuke> That reminded him, he hadn't checked on the cocoon today.

<Zidane> Nakago eats a few more worms then takes the root and chews on it as he heads down to where the cocoon lies

<Sanosuke> He heard a strange sound as he got near....

<Zidane> Nakago blinks... and runs towards the sounds... afraid something is eating or destroying the cocoon

<Sanosuke> He saw nothing around the cocoon.. but the cocoon itself was buldging in places.... perhaps it was hatching at last.

<Zidane> "wow.... youre hatching...! I hope anyway...."

<Sanosuke> It buldge and cracked in places... and soon a hand slid out one of the cracks.. trying to free the rest.

<Zidane> Nakago wonders if he should help.... and pulls gently at the cocooon

<Sanosuke> Soon the hand was joined by a leg and parts of the cocoon started to fall all over.

<Zidane> Nakago helps the creature emerge .... smiling because he will finally have company

<Sanosuke> It fell out, covered in semi slime.... and groaned.

<Zidane> Nakago blinks and wonders what he should do next

<Sanosuke> "Food...." The hatchling groaned.

<Zidane> "Food... ?"

<Sanosuke> "Hungry..."

<Zidane> Nakago looks at the partially eaten root in his hand and offers it to the hatchling

<Sanosuke> The hatchling grabbed it up and ate it quickly. "Food...."

<Zidane> "I have to find more...."

<Sanosuke> The hatchling pulled himself up to his feet and blinked. he was naked of course.

<Zidane> "Here.... come with me..... I'll dig up some food for you..."

<Sanosuke> "ok." He followed Nakago.

<Zidane> "Its good you can talk....."

<Sanosuke> "Learn.. absorbed." He tapped his head.

<Zidane> "Thats good... c'mon" Nakago says and kneels by a plant and starts to dig at its roots

<Sanosuke> The draz sat down and pulled at the plants, shoving them into his mouth.

<Zidane> Nakago finds some of the little worms and offers them to the draz as well

<Sanosuke> The draz slurped them and smiled. "Mmm, better."

<Zidane> "Do you have a name?"

<Sanosuke> "Name?"

<Zidane> "I guess not..."

<Sanosuke> "What's a name?"

<Zidane> "What you call yourself"

<Sanosuke> "Oh." The draz sat there.

<Zidane> "I will call you.... Tamahome... after a constellation I read about once...."

<Sanosuke> "Ohh, Pretty." He smiled. "Then what do i call you?"

<Zidane> "My name is Nakago"

<Sanosuke> "Ok. What do we do now that food is done?":

<Sanosuke> Tamahome stared at his hands, looking them over as well as the rest of himself.

<Zidane> "Theres some water If you want to clean yourself...."

<Sanosuke> "Ok. Water good. Where is it?"

<Zidane> "Come..." Nakago says and takes the Draz' hand

<Sanosuke> Tamahome stood up and took the hand.

<Zidane> Nakago leads him to a small pool that he dug out where there was water dripping

<Sanosuke> Tamahome jumped in, letting the water over him.

<Zidane> Nakago watches him almost hungrily... surprised as his body responds in strange ways to Tamahome's movements

<Sanosuke> And Tamahome's nudness.... now completely clean as he relaxed in the water.

<Sanosuke> Tamahome swam around the little pool.

<Zidane> Nakago watches him quietly.... wondering what the odd stirrings within him are

<Sanosuke> Nakago's clothing was ripped... and he got another urge to just take it all off.

<Zidane> Nakago plucks at the rags he is wearing and wonders .... since the temperature of this planet is always warm... does he even really need clothes?

<Sanosuke> They just inconvinince him... and Tamahome seemed perfectly at ease without them.

<Zidane> Nakago takes what is left of his clothes off and stretches languidly

<Sanosuke> Tamahome got to the edge of the water and looked at Nakago, cocking his head.,

<Zidane> "I figure if you can do it... I will do it too"

<Sanosuke> "What was that stuff you had over your body?"

<Zidane> "Clothes..."

<Sanosuke> "What are they for?"

<Zidane> "They keep me warm....."

<Sanosuke> "I see... this water is warm."

<Zidane> Nakago moves into the water beside Tamahome

<Sanosuke> Tamahome smiled. "You're not that tall... and you got that pointy thing on your head..." Tamahome patted his own head. "How come I don't look like you?"

<Zidane> "Cuz Im not the same as you"

<Sanosuke> "What are you and what am I then?"

<Zidane> "Im a Dragon..... and youre a Draz"

<Sanosuke> "What's that mean?"

<Zidane> "We're different species...."

<Sanosuke> "Species?"

<Zidane> "Yeah... you'll understand someday "

<Sanosuke> "Alright." He smiled and finished washing himself.

<Zidane> Nakago reaches out and touches the Draz

<Sanosuke> He felt smooth skin, fresh skin.... very new.... very warm too.

<Zidane> "Its been a long time since Ive seen anyone...." Nakago comments and slips close to the Draz

<Sanosuke> "Really? How long? I remeber long... long times when it was so quiet.... Then Iheard your voice...."

<Zidane> "Its been a year... for me.... I would come and talk to your cocoon since the computer was.... boring

<Sanosuke> "I learned from you... it was no longer quiet... I don't like quiet.. "

<Zidane> "Yes.... quiet isnt good.... its been so quiet for me...."

<Sanosuke> "I can talk now... so I will talk so it will no longer be quiet for you."

<Zidane> "Thank you.... I will talk with you too..."

<Sanosuke> "Talk talk talk... and learn. I want to learn all I can."

<Zidane> "I will teach you...."

<Sanosuke> "Alright. Teach me." Tamahome smiled.

<Zidane> "You are pretty..." Nakago says softly and reaches out to touch Tamahome's face

<Sanosuke> The draz smiled. "Pretty is good, right?"

<Zidane> "Yes.... it is" Nakago says.... and draws back slightly.... since he realizes what hes doing and remembers that Draz mate for life....

<Sanosuke> "You're pretty too."

<Zidane> "Well I am glad you are here.... you will be my friend... right?"

<Sanosuke> "Friend? What's Friend?"

<Zidane> "Someone you want to be around... and talk to...."

<Sanosuke> "Yes. I'd like that." He smiled.

<Zidane> "Great!"

<Sanosuke> "What shall we talk about?"

<Zidane> "Dunno"

<Sanosuke> Tamahome got out of the water.

<Zidane> Nakago smiles at him

<Sanosuke> He smiled back. "Come out of the water?"

<Zidane> "Sure.... " Nakago says and climbs out as well

<Sanosuke> "Shall we learn?"

<Zidane> "What you wanna learn?" Nakago asks... noting that the Draz has no nipples

<Sanosuke> "Anything... everything... teach me?"

<Zidane> "Well... how about how to use the computer?"

<Sanosuke> "Alright." Tamahome stood up.

<Zidane> Nakago takes his hand and pulls him along

<Sanosuke> Tamahome followed happily. "How am I to be taught?"

<Zidane> "I'll show you"

<Sanosuke> "Ok." The draz looked at the computer.

<Zidane> Nakago powers it up "Computer... the cocoon has hatched... suggestions?"

<Sanosuke> "Feed emerger... bzzztt."

<Sanosuke> Tamahome blinked. "that's the computer?"

<Zidane> "Fed him.."

<Sanosuke> "Bzztt... teach.... bzzttt.."

<Zidane> "Teach him what?"

<Sanosuke> "Reading... writing.. basics... bzzzt."

<Zidane> "But I dont have any materials to teach him with.... any located here?"

<Sanosuke> "Here... computer... bzzzt."

<Zidane> "Okay... please start a program for reading"

<Sanosuke> The computer flashed and some text scrolled by, along with pictures.

<Sanosuke> Tamahome blinked and got to the computer. "What is all this?"

<Zidane> "For you to learn"

<Sanosuke> "Ok." The computer started to talk, and flash with the picutres and Tamahome became glued to the screen, learning.

<Zidane> Nakago smiles and moves away slightly to collect some food

<Sanosuke> It only took a few days for Tamahome to absorb reading.

<Zidane> "Wow.... youre a fast learner..."

<Sanosuke> Tamahome smiled. "Computer said all Draz are."

<Zidane> "It took me forever to learn to read.... I feel dumb"

<Sanosuke> "Why?" Tamahome sat down.

<Zidane> "Cuz Im not a draz"

<Sanosuke> "Whywould that make you feel dumb?"

<Zidane> "I dunno...."

<Sanosuke> Tamahome lay down on his back and munched on a root. "I read other stuff too... that Draz came to be when another race practily destroyed our homeworld.... killing all life but for the adaptible creatures that became the

<Sanosuke> Draz..."

<Zidane> "That world was my homeworld.... once too"

<Sanosuke> "It was?" Tamahome propped up on his elbows.

<Zidane> "Yeah... my races was the one .... that was destroyed ....it made it so your race would exist..."

<Sanosuke> Tamahome frowned. "That's awful. Those 'holy beings' killed your people?"

<Zidane> "Yes.... poppa always yells and screams about that...."

<Sanosuke> "Why did they do such a thing?"

<Zidane> "I dont really know... poppa doesnt know either.... I think.... he wants to kill them all....:

<Sanosuke> "Why doesn't he?"

<Zidane> "Momma Flea wont let him...."

<Sanosuke> "Why?"

<Zidane> "Cuz momma flea says its not thier fault...."

<Zidane> 'But there are still ones... that want us dead.... they want thier mistakes erased... so they will stay pristine in the eyes of the universe...."

<Sanosuke> "But the computer said they wiped out all life but what we Draz came from."

<Zidane> "My poppa got away... his parents shot him out in a capsule..."

<Sanosuke> "What are we going to do?"

<Zidane> "Im gonna find a way to destroy the ones that destroyed my race... and.... still threaten it"

<Sanosuke> "Alright. Want me to help?"

<Zidane> "Yeah..!!”

<Sanosuke> Tamahome nodded. "Ok." He smiled.

<Zidane> Nakago mmphs softly in the present and nestles tighter against Tamahome as he awakens

<Sanosuke> Tamahome purred and curled, but stayed sleeping, snuggled against his chest.

<Zidane> Nakago sighs and sits up... stretching

<Sanosuke> This displaced Tamahome who slid down him and woke up in Nakago's lap, yawning.

<Zidane> Nakago chuckles "come love... let us bathe then open the device...."

<Sanosuke> The draz smiled. "Fun." He got off Nakago's lap, not bothering with a towl or robe as he headed naked to their 'bathtub'.

<Zidane> Nakago joins him..... naked as well

<Sanosuke> Tamahome filled the huge tub and poured soaps in.

<Zidane> Nakago kisses his shoulder gently

<Sanosuke> Tamahome closed his eyes and purred again, slipping into the water.

<Zidane> Nakago slips into the water with him and kisses Tamahome's nose

<Sanosuke> "Have any good dreams?" Tamahome asked, pulling his arms around him.

<Zidane> "Dreamed about when we met"

<Sanosuke> "How could I forget that? The first things I remember..."

<Zidane> "Mmm..... with this device.... we will rule ..... and my father wont have to be afraid anymore...."

<Sanosuke> "Good." Tamahome lay his head on the blonde's shoulder, pulling close to him.

<Zidane> "I should visit him..... but not until my task is complete...."

<Sanosuke> "You want me to come with you?" He nuzzled at his lover's neck.

<Zidane> "Of course.... he may be angry at first..... but.... he will understand once Ive destroyed......"

<Sanosuke> "Mmm.... once we've, right?"

<Zidane> "Yes...."

<Sanosuke> "Mmm. Anything you want."

<Zidane> "You and I will rule..."

<Sanosuke> "Of course." Tamahome pressed against him.

<Zidane> "mm... beloved.... " nakago purrs and picks up a washcloth

<Sanosuke> Tamahome took the washcloth from him and washed him over his chest.

<Zidane> Nakago's purr grows louder

<Sanosuke> The cloth moved up to his horn, washing every inch of it.

<Zidane> "Mmmm..... youre going to drive me mad...."

<Sanosuke> "Heh heh... but I love it when you get like that." He moved the cloth to Nakago's back.

<Zidane> "Its going to break off If I use it too much"

<Sanosuke> "They break?" Tamahome raised an eyebrow.

<Zidane> "Im teasing you..."

<Sanosuke> "Mmm... but such good teasing..." He grasped his lover's lips, purring into his mouth.

<Zidane> "Mmph.." Nakago purrs and wraps his arms around Tamahome

<Sanosuke> The draz wrapped his legs around the blonde.

<Sanosuke> "Good evening my Lady." Edgar greeted as Lina passed.

<Zidane> Lina blinks at Edgar "you always have to be so formal?"

<Sanosuke> "It's how I am." he smiled.

<Zidane> "Aha.... well... whatcha up to?"

<Sanosuke> "Repairing this ship. The replicators should be working fine now."

<Zidane> "Thats wonderful!!!"

<Zidane> ~Hah.... I told Xellos I would get it taken care of.....~

<Sanosuke> "Now you can have whatever you want to eat."

<Zidane> Lina rubs her hands together "Sounds great... but I havent slept yet... things keep getting in my way.... "

<Zidane> "We are en route to the Gold Dragon's home world.... and I am catching a nap while thats happening..."

<Sanosuke> "Alright. Goodnight then my lady." And he walked off, giving her another smile.

<Zidane> Lina heads for her quarters.... wondering about that Edgar guy

<Sanosuke> At last... sleep... and no damned annoying priest to wake her up.

<Zidane> Lina fishes around under her bed for her VR dreamset.... the one that got pulled off the market aeons ago cuz its addictive and has the tendency to fry brains

<Sanosuke> It was still under there, no one had taken it.

<Zidane> "Ahh.... Im taking my chances with you tonight.... unadultered slumber or fried brains... both sound GREAT right now...."

<Zidane> ^unadulterated

<Sanosuke> It was a good thing her room was empty or they might have stopped her from putting it on, thinking she was in danger, and therefor robbing her of a great night's sleep.

<Zidane> Lina pops in one of her favorite dream tapes.... one of old terra.... and flops back on the bed

<Sanosuke> It was so pretty.... birds, oceans, flowers....

<Zidane> Lina purrs in her sleep... as she gets to the best part.... just sitting.... in a big overstuffed arm chair in front of an open fire.... with a bottle of blackberry brandy as company...

<Sanosuke> She didn't wake up till they had reached the planet.

<Zidane> Lina slides the set off feeling quite refreshed .... "Ahh.... nothing like overstimulating your brain cells every now and then...."

<Sanosuke> She heard a knock at her door.

<Zidane> "Come in!"

<Sanosuke> Gourry walked in. "Morning Captain. We've arrived."

<Zidane> "Thats great.... well lets go talk to those dragons.... " Lina says and shoves the dream device under her pillow

<Sanosuke> Gourry walked back out of the room, heading for the bridge.

<Zidane> Lina follows him..... feeling quite good right now

<Sanosuke> Everyone was waiting on the bridge for her and greated her.

<Sanosuke> "Ah, one of my race's homes.." Fillia remarked, looking at the screen.

<Zidane> "Now filia.... tell me the best way to get the elders to talk"

<Sanosuke> "Go down there and talk to them."

<Zidane> "I cant just barge in can I?

<Sanosuke> "Barge in?"

<Zidane> "I have to tell them Im coming right?"

<Sanosuke> "Yes. Messege them."

<Zidane> "Hail please"

<Sanosuke> The image of a male gold dragon appeard on the screen. "Yes?"

<Zidane> "I have some things I want to talk to you about.... specifically your elders"

<Sanosuke> "Yes? What about?":

<Zidane> "About the ancient Dragons"

<Sanosuke> ".......... Land at these corrodinates." A set was sent to the ship.

<Zidane> "Alright... take her down... stay on your toes.... never know what may come... and land right side up!"

<Sanosuke> Everyone grabbed hold of something just in case.

<Zidane> The ship settles down with little argument

<Sanosuke> "I'll be staying here." Fillia told them.

<Zidane> "You dont wanna come Filia?"

<Sanosuke> "Nah. I might get in trouble again."

<Zidane> 'Okay.... take care of the ship then...."

<Sanosuke> "I will." Filia sat down and got a cup of tea.

<Zidane> "Anyone else wanna stay with Filia?"

<Sanosuke> "I want to go see the dragons." Zel told her.

<Zidane> "Alright..... "

<Zidane> "I dont wanna go... they eat my ancestors!! " Zack practically whimpers

<Sanosuke> "So tastey..." Filli drooled.

<Sanosuke> "I'll stay and calm Zack.. ok?" Gourry asked.

<Zidane> "Alright... anyone else comin?"

<Zidane> "I'd like to meet the people my father hates so ...." Tasuki offers

<Sanosuke> "I'm coming with you too!" Rinoa chimes in.

<Zidane> "Alright..... c'mon landing party... lets go....."

<Sanosuke> The landing party followed Lina out of the ship.

<Zidane> "I gotta teach my ship to park...." Lina mutters when she notes the mess Al made when he landed

<Sanosuke> "Sounds like a job for that Edgar guy..." Rinoa told her.

<Zidane> "Yeah.... hey edgar... teach Al some manners huh?"

<Sanosuke> "Ok!" Edgar went back into the ship.

<Zidane> "Okay guys... lets go then..."

<Sanosuke> While the ground party headed off to talk to the elder golddragons two figures snuck out of Zack's room, looking for food.

<Zidane> "Nuriko I am soooo.... sooo hungry...."

<Sanosuke> "Meeee tooo. Where shall we find food?"

<Zidane> "Try a replicator?"

<Sanosuke> "Hmm... where are they?"

<Zidane> "I guess along the halls and in quarters...."

<Sanosuke> "There was none in the one we've been using.."

<Zidane> "Well lets find one then... Im starving..."

<Sanosuke> Nuriko hurried along, and nearly plowed into Zack and Gourry.

<Zidane> Zack blinks

<Sanosuke> Gourry blinked. "Um, where did they come from?"

<Sanosuke> Nuriko grinned, trying to play innocent.

<Zidane> "Werent... you the guys that Lina DIDNT want on our crew?"

<Zidane> Hotohori blinks

<Sanosuke> "Um, so?" Nuriko said.

<Zidane> "These are the guys that stole my room...."

<Sanosuke> "You said we could borrow it!" Nuriko protested.

<Sanosuke> Gourry scratched his head. "Um, what am I missing here?"

<Zidane> "Only temporarily...."

<Sanosuke> "Ok ok.. but we're hungry.."

<Zidane> "well.... edgar fixed the replicators... I think"

<Sanosuke> "you havn't told Lina we're here?"

<Sanosuke> "FOOD!" Gourry shouted.

<Zidane> Zack shakes his head.... "Lets get you guys fed..."

<Sanosuke> "Food! Food is the best!" Gourry was running to the mass eating area on the ship.

<Zidane> Zack shrugs and follows Gourry....

<Sanosuke> Gourry got all sorts of food from the replicators and sat it on the table. Nuriko attacked the food and ate cause he was hungry.

<Zidane> Hotohori eats dantily....

<Zidane> Zack frowns and gets himself some suitable things from the replicator and sits down with them

<Sanosuke> Nuriko settles down after a bit and actually chews the food.

<Sanosuke> Gourry just keeps on plowwing through the food.

<Zidane> Zack watches Gourry ... somewhat amazed as he eats his meal

<Sanosuke> Soon many plates and bowls were stacked up from his eating.

<Zidane> "Gourry you can really pack it away....."

<Sanosuke> "Yeah." He smiled, patting his tummy.

<Sanosuke> Nuriko leand on Hotohori when he finished eating/.

<Sanosuke> Nuriko fell asleep.

<Zidane> Hotohori sighs and pokes at Nuriko

<Sanosuke> "mm?' Nuriko opened an eye.

<Zidane> "Wanna go back to OUR room?"

<Sanosuke> "I think Zack wants it back..."

<Zidane> "Im okay In Gourry's room... he doesnt seem to mind... anyway"

<Sanosuke> "Ohh... shacking up with big, blonde, and handsome, eh?"

<Zidane> "Shackin.... no!! When my kind mates its for life.... theres no such thing...."

<Sanosuke> Nuriko giggled. "What a lovely race too...."

<Zidane> "Uhh... what you mean by lovely?"

<Sanosuke> Nuriko giggled. "Anyway... where can we stay?"

<Zidane> "Well... theres some open quarters I think..."

<Sanosuke> "Can you take us there?"

<Zidane> "Sure.... "

<Sanosuke> "Thanks." Nuriko stood up.

<Zidane> "Comin Gourry?"

<Sanosuke> Gourry stood. "Sure."

<Zidane> Zack leads them along the halls of the ship... to where he believes there to be empty quarteers

<Sanosuke> They were too... and thankfully, they were the only ones there at themomment.

<Sanosuke> "This looks Nice.." Nuriko pulled Hotohori into a room.

<Sanosuke> Nuriko pulled Hotohori into the room he was claiming.

<Zidane> "N.... nuriko..... do you have to be so....

<Sanosuke> "So what?"

<Sanosuke> Gourry blinked, watching them.

<Zidane> "So foreward.... !!"

<Sanosuke> "Sorry darling." Nuriko kissed him and let him go.

<Zidane> Hotohori grumbles.... since he is prim and proper

<Sanosuke> Nuriko hung off him, smiling.

<Sanosuke> Gourry grinned. "That's cute."

<Zidane> "Yeah..... cute' Zack says.. wondering

<Sanosuke> On the planet Lina was finnaly entering the chamber of elders.

<Zidane> "Damn.... these guys are slow...." Lina complains

<Sanosuke> An elder approuched her. "Greetings."

<Zidane> "Alright... I want to jump right to the meat of the problem pal..."

<Sanosuke> "What is the problem?"

<Zidane> "What did the ancient dragons have that could have destroyed an entire species?"

<Sanosuke> The elder blinked. "Why do you ask such a question?"

<Zidane> "Because... I dug somethin up on their homeworld and gave it to a collector of some sorts... only to be told that my actions endangered a species"

<Sanosuke> The elder blinked.... and blinked again... then fell very very silent, as if in shock.

<Zidane> "You gonna tell me what I did?"

<Sanosuke> "I... I must go..." He hurried off quickly.

<Zidane> "Great.... no answers anywhere....."

<Zidane> "But whats another species... my species was almost whiped out.... and nobody helped us...."

<Sanosuke> "Maybe that was our answer?" Rinoa asked, shrugging.

<Zidane> "Well Im not playing around with this anymore.... if I hadnt dug up that artifact someone else would have...." Lina says shrugging.... and walking back tos her ship

<Sanosuke> "That's true..."

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis hmmed and looked to Tasuki.

<Zidane> Tasuki shrugs

<Sanosuke> When they got back to the ship Edgar cheerfully told them he had finished all the work he could do on the ship.

<Zidane> "Thats great.... alright guys.... we're heading to a port to wait for work...."

<Sanosuke> They cheered.

<Sanosuke> Filia popped her head out. "You're back?"

<Zidane> "Yep.... they heard what I had to say and ran off...." Lina says with as hrug

<Sanosuke> Fillia frowned. "That's odd. Oh well."

<Zidane> "Everyone can have leave when we get to a port.... "

<Sanosuke> "Cool!" Gourry cheered. "Food good at ports!"

<Zidane> Lina pats Gourry on the head with a small smirk

<Zidane> "Yes.... food is good at ports....."

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis headed back for the labs, still with a thoguhtful look on his face.

<Zidane> Tasuki tags along with Zel.... sorta liking his company

<Sanosuke> Zel sat down in the lab and stared of into space, looking lost in thought.

<Zidane> "Whatcha thinkin?"

<Sanosuke> "Wondering.... wondering why he ran off like that."

<Zidane> "I have a feeling its somethin bad...."

<Sanosuke> "so do I... I think he was scared and didn't want us to know what it was."

<Zidane> "But.... a whole species....."

<Sanosuke> "Maybe that was part of the reason they killed your race long ago... fear... just as the Draz destroyed Earth to try and destroy Griever..."

<Zidane> "From what my dad said.... our race was peaceful... chosing not to fight in the wars...."

<Sanosuke> "True.... but perhaps long ago your race might have made somethign... something they didn't want to use but had...."

<Zidane> "Maybe...."

<Sanosuke> Zel looked off into space. "We share some things in common..."

<Zidane> Tasuki nods.... "yeah..... "

<Sanosuke> "We were both born from test tubes.... both had our races hunted and nearly completely destroyed...."

<Zidane> "are you lonely too?"

<Sanosuke> "Yes.. very."

<Zidane> "Wanna be lonely together"

<Sanosuke> "Why not? Maybe we can become.. unlonely?"

<Zidane> "I'd like that"

<Sanosuke> "So would I... a lot."

<Zidane> Tasuki smiles broadly.... showing off his fangs

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis smiled back, trying to brush his wirey hair from his eyes.

<Zidane> Tasuki reaches out curiously to touch Zel's hair

<Sanosuke> It was wirey, but it made Zel smile some more.

<Zidane> "It feels neat"

<Sanosuke> "Thanks." Zel's blue cheeks turned a little red.

<Zidane> Tasuki plays with Zel's hair... apparently not minding its texture

<Sanosuke> This made him giggle some, and smile more at Tasuki.

<Zidane> "Hmm... "

<Sanosuke> "Mmmm."

<Zidane> Tasuki's next move is to brush his fingers along Zel's face... marveling at the rocky texture

<Sanosuke> It was smooth except along the pebble scales.

<Zidane> "You feel neat too...."

<Sanosuke> Zel moved his hand up slowly to touch Tasuki's face.

<Zidane> Tasuki closes his eyes and purrs

<Sanosuke> The finger traced up along his horn.

<Zidane> Tasuki shivers slightly.... a small sound slipping out of his mouth

<Sanosuke> "So soft..." Zel purred.

<Zidane> "mmmm.... youre.... turning me on by doing that...."

<Sanosuke> "I wish I had skin this soft..."

<Zidane> "Your skin feels nice though.... like a nice hot rock to bask on....."

<Sanosuke> "You like that?"

<Zidane> "Yes... "

<Sanosuke> "Well, i am hard and wamr..."

<Zidane> "Can I sleep on you?"

<Sanosuke> Zel smiled some. "Alright."

<Zidane> Tasuki claps his hands "human beds are too soft..."

<Sanosuke> "Too soft?"

<Zidane> "Yeah..... I like hard things

<Zidane> Tasuki chuckles

<Sanosuke> "Well... I'm hard... cause i'm part rock."

<Zidane> "I like rocks too"

<Sanosuke> "Thanks... I've never met anyone who does.... who's at all compadible with me anyway."

<Zidane> "This is great..... ne?"

<Sanosuke> "Yes, it is. I'm not dreaming, am I

<Sanosuke> ?"

<Sanosuke> "Did you want to go to my room?"

<Zidane> 'sure!"

<Sanosuke> Zel smiled and got up, walking to his room with Tasuki.

<Zidane> Tasuki looks around Zel's quarters for a moment

<Sanosuke> They were rather neat and clean... but for a couple of coffee mugs.

<Zidane> "Youre nice an neat.... thats good to know"

<Sanosuke> "Thanks." Zel sat down on his bed.

<Zidane> Tasuki sits down beside him and twitches nervously

<Sanosuke> "You ok?" Zel asked him.

<Zidane> "Yeah... just dont know what ta do...."

<Sanosuke> "I'm tired... I know I want some sleep."

<Zidane> "Okay.... lets sleep then....."

<Sanosuke> Zel took of his shirt and lay on the bed.,

<Zidane> Tasuki flops down on top of him.... apparently used to sleeping on someone... or something hard

<Sanosuke> Zel purred, adjusting slightly to get used to the weight.

<Zidane> Tasuki nestles against the warm stone.... almost like a heat rock bed he used to use when he was very small....

<Sanosuke> Soon he could tell that Zelgadis was fast asleep.

<Zidane> Tasuki purrs and falls asleep as well... enjoying the rythmic breathing of his living bed

<Sanosuke> And its wonderful warmth... and slight movement.

<Sanosuke> pleasent dreams all around.

<Zidane> Cept for Lina

<Sanosuke> who got another visit from Xellos.

<Zidane> And as with any visit Lina is not pleased

<Sanosuke> Xellos was sitting on the end of her bed.

<Zidane> "Come to tease me with more riddles Xellos?"

<Sanosuke> "Maybe." He smiled at her.

<Zidane> "Uh huh.... " Lina says and tries to shift her attention elsewhere

<Sanosuke> Xellos got closer to her on the bed.

<Zidane> Lina tries not to pay attention.... knowing that he goes away eventually.... but thats usually only after he's gotten her flustered

<Sanosuke> He patted her on the head. "Tried any of Filia's cooking?"

<Zidane> "No I dont do worms...":

<Sanosuke> "They are quiet tastey.. so are gold dragons for that matter... pitty there will be none soon."

<Zidane> "So thats the species youre talking about huh?"

<Sanosuke> "But of course.... Gold dragon is quiet tastey brazzed in Tlug... mmm."

<Zidane> "Does that mean human is on your menu as well?" Lina asks... a little disgusted

<Sanosuke> "No, why?"

<Zidane> "Just asking...."

<Zidane> "Anyway.... I told the Gold dragons and they ran off.... its thier fault if they die now"

<Sanosuke> "Perhaps. Of course, in a way, you're to blame."

<Zidane> "I dont really care... my species was almost whiped out and nobody cared"

<Sanosuke> "Alright then." Xellos just grinned.

<Zidane> "Now if you would kindly leave"

<Sanosuke> "You want me to leave?" Xellos feined hurt.

<Zidane> "Yeah.... we're heading to port and Im taking a break"

<Sanosuke> Xellos moved up and sat in her lap.

<Zidane> "Ohhh..... rrrr..... dont start this crap"

<Sanosuke> "Which crap?"

<Zidane> "sittin on me.... c'mon get off....."

<Sanosuke> Xellos leaned over and kissed her before vanishing.

<Zidane> Lina screams out loud after he's gone.... venting her frustration ...

<Sanosuke> The next day she could smell Filia cooking again.

<Zidane> Lina knocks on Filia's door

<Sanosuke> "Come in!" Filia called.

<Zidane> Lina enters and frowns..... "Sorry to bug you Filia.... but I got a little insight on the problem last night"

<Sanosuke> "Oh? Come in, sit down, was just making breakfast."

<Zidane> Lina sits down "Xellos told me its your species thats doomed....."

<Sanosuke> "Huh?" Filia droped her plate.

<Zidane> "Thats what he told me..... someone got a grudge with you guys?"

<Sanosuke> "I.. I don't see who...." She blinked, "But there's only about 11 of them, maybe more but they'd be babies... and one is on this ship!!!"

<Zidane> "An ancient dragon? Maybe we should ask Tasuki about his brothers and sisters"

<Sanosuke> Filia nodded, not noticing that a few live Tlugs were escaping off the plate she dropped.

<Zidane> "Going to come to his quarters with me?"

<Sanosuke> "Yes.. yes.. I'll come."

<Zidane> "Right... lets check this out then....."

<Sanosuke> Filia followed her to Tasuki's room and knocked on the door...

<Zidane> "Allo? Tasuki.... you in there?"

<Sanosuke> "Hmmm.. not in I guess... Where could he be?"

<Zidane> "No Idea.... I'll ask Zel I guess.... he's always hangin out with him"

<Sanosuke> "Ok." Fillia headed down the hall to Zelgadis's room.

<Zidane> Lina knocks on Zel's door "Hey Zelgadis?"

<Sanosuke> "Mmm?" Came a responce.

<Zidane> "Have you seen Tasuki?"

<Sanosuke> There was silence as inside the room Zel poked Tasuki a little, trying to wake him.

<Zidane> "Rrrrr....." tasuki growls softly at being disturbed

<Sanosuke> "Lina's looking for you..." Zel said softly.

<Zidane> "Uuh.... wha...... why?"

<Sanosuke> "No idea.. she's at the door though."

<Zidane> Tasuki sits up and stretches Languidly

<Sanosuke> "Be right with you." Zel called out to Lina.

<Zidane> "Well tell her to come in I gues...." Tasuki says and slides off of Zelgadis"

<Sanosuke> "Come in!"

<Zidane> Lina enters.... with Filia in tow "We need to know about your siblings Tasuki"

<Zidane> "What about em?"

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis sat up. "He was telling me last night about when he snuck onto his uncle's ship."

<Sanosuke> Filia looked at Tasuki. "Got word my race is doomed..."

<Zidane> Tasuki blinks...."Whats that got to do with me?"

<Sanosuke> "We think it might be one of your sibblings..."

<Zidane> "But everyone else is at home with ......well not him.... but he wouldnt....."

<Sanosuke> "Who?" Fillia asked.

<Zidane> "Nakago....'

<Sanosuke> "Who's that?"

<Zidane> "One of my brothers...."

<Sanosuke> "You think he might be?"

<Zidane> "But why would he..... unless he's doin it cuz of dad..."

<Sanosuke> "What about your dad?"

<Zidane> "Dad used to rant about the gold dragons.... especially when he started .... going downhill..."

<Sanosuke> "What did he say?"

<Zidane> "He used to say how he wanted to make the golds suffer like he did.....I never took him seriously"

<Sanosuke> "You think.. Nakago did?" Fillia was turning pale.

<Zidane> "Maybe..... and.... last I heard he was really into researching the ancients....."

<Sanosuke> "What did you last hear of your brother?"

<Zidane> "Well.... he ran away shortly after.... I did.... nobody knows where he went.....

<Sanosuke> Tamahome pulled himself out of the water, purring under his lips.

<Zidane> Nakago strokes fingers along Tamahome's cheek and sighs "Work before play darling....."

<Sanosuke> "Yes. Let us get to work on opening that thing." He grinned.

<Zidane> Nakago dries himself and pads over to the device..... not bothering to dress himself

<Sanosuke> Tamahome didn't bother either, content to walk naked after him.

<Zidane> Nakago crouches beside it and runs his hands over the smooth surface

<Sanosuke> "How does it feel?" Tamahome watched him.

<Zidane> "Smooth.... powerful"

<Sanosuke> "Powerful?" Tamahome squated by Nakago.

<Zidane> "Yes.... I can feel it.... " Nakago purrs

<Sanosuke> Tamahome reached out his hand to touch.

<Zidane> "Be careful..... they didnt want anyone to be able to open it...."

<Sanosuke> "I understand."

<Sanosuke> Tamahome quickly drew his hand back and grimaced.

<Zidane> "Hmm..... it is a field your kind doesnt like...." Nakago says......trying to find an acess panel

<Sanosuke> "I bet.. that hurt..." Tamahome shook his hand.

<Zidane> Nakago gently takes Tamahome's hand and kisses it

<Sanosuke> Tamahome smiled softly. "Know how to open it?"

<Zidane> "No.... but I will find out"

<Sanosuke> "What if the feild widens once the top is off?"

<Zidane> "Hmm.... I dont want you hurt...."

<Sanosuke> "If it starts to I'll leave the room. I'm not gonna be in the way of your revenge my sweet."

<Zidane> "Thank you beloved"

<Sanosuke> "Anything for my love." Tamahome smiled.

<Zidane> Nakago continues to fiddle with the device.... humming to himself

<Sanosuke> Tamahome stayed by his side, grinning as he watched.

<Zidane> Finally a panel slides open.... and Nakago grins savagely

<Sanosuke> Tamahome matched the look.

<Zidane> Nakago reads what the readouts say.... "Mmm.... wonderful"

<Sanosuke> "What's it say beloved?"

<Zidane> "It causes geolock.... "

<Sanosuke> "What's that mean?"

<Zidane> "Freezes the planet's core and causes it to shatter slowly...."

<Sanosuke> Tasuki grinned. "That's even better then just blowing the planet up, isn't it?"

<Zidane> "Yes.... because they will not die immediately..... "

<Sanosuke> "But can they escape?"

<Zidane> "They can try...."

<Sanosuke> "What will happen?"

<Zidane> "They will move to the next world.... and I will follow... and destroy that as well...."

<Sanosuke> "They must have spread to many worlds.. and what about the ones wandering about on stations and the one that was on that ship?"

<Zidane> "They will fall.... one by one..... I will make it my personal vendetta to slay every one.... and any other who stands in my way...."

<Sanosuke> Tamahome grinned and nodded. "What shall we do first?"

<Zidane> "Fit it to my ship.... then find an outlying colony to test it on"

<Sanosuke> Tamahome nodded. "How long do you think it will take them to die?"

<Zidane> "It doesnt matter.... as long as they do die.... "

<Sanosuke> "Alright then. Shall we go about fitting the device to the ship?"

<Zidane> "But I will not be a fool.... I will make sure EVERY last one is gone..... they made the mistake of letting my father live....."

<Sanosuke> "You think that was a bad thing? you would not be here if they hadn't..he was not the only one who survived the planet's fall remember..."

<Zidane> "Yes.... but they let them survive.... they let him survive.... and now they will be destroyed..... if you let one slip through the cracks.... it will come back at you someday....."

<Sanosuke> "Yes. How are we to be sure that they all are dead?"

<Zidane> "Doesnt matter.... I will kill them all..."

<Sanosuke> Tamahome purred. "Shall we then?"

<Zidane> "Yes.... lets go"

<Sanosuke> Meanwhile... as Zack was walking down the hall he spotted a few small mouse-sized shapes oozing across the hall outside Filia's room.

<Zidane> Zack blinks

<Sanosuke> Tlugs... Filia's escaped breakfast.

<Zidane> "You guys escaped!"

<Sanosuke> They didn't seem to notice him as they continued to ooze across the carpet, seemingly away from Filia's room.

<Zidane> Zack sighs and picks them up "You arent too smart...."

<Sanosuke> They oozed cold slime all over his hands, but for some reason it just felt, good in a way...

<Zidane> "I'll protect you guys.... dont worry..." Zack says and carries them off

<Sanosuke> He ran into Gourry down the hall. "What yah got?" He asked.

<Zidane> "Tlugs...."

<Sanosuke> "Really? Isn't that what Filia's been eating?"

<Zidane> "Yeh...."

<Sanosuke> "Arn't they also the anscestors of Draz?"

<Zidane> "Yep.... these are my.... ancestors.... neat huh?"

<Sanosuke> "Yeah. They're small and oozy."

<Zidane> "This is what I looked like when I was little"

<Sanosuke> "Wow. That's kind of cool."

<Zidane> "Here.... lets put them in something safe...."

<Sanosuke> "Like what?"

<Zidane> "A container.... with some water.... and stuff to hide under"

<Sanosuke> "Hmm... let's go find one then." Gourry walked off with him.

<Zidane> Zack follows Gourry.... happy with his little..... "friends"

<Sanosuke> Gourry found a spare tank in the lab and put some water in it and a few large leaves he found off a plant in the hydroponics area. "There we go."

<Zidane> "Perfect" Zack says and puts his hands into the aquarium so his pals can rest in thier new home

<Sanosuke> They squirmed out and seemed perfectly at ease in the new tank.

<Zidane> Zack smiles "I wish I could be that happy"

<Sanosuke> "Living simply?"

<Zidane> "Yeah..... Im getting to the point where I think maybe I should just take a mate and be happy

<Sanosuke> "How would that work?"

<Zidane> "Well I'd have to find another Draz.... one that I want to spend my life with....

<Sanosuke> "And then what?"

<Zidane> "Mate.... have children...... get old... that sort of thing...."

<Sanosuke> "How do Draz have kids anway?" Gourry blinked.

<Zidane> "Well.... "

<Sanosuke> "Cause you only got one sex I know..."

<Zidane> "Well..... we have one sex sorta... but when we mate.... one of us gets pregnant... and .... its a bit painful"

<Zidane> "Thats why so many of my kind take human or other lovers...."

<Sanosuke> "Really? I heard with my kind the female gets pregnant and stuff..."

<Zidane> "Heh..... you got any females you like?"

<Sanosuke> "Not really, no." Gourry sat down and watched the tank.

<Zidane> "Surprising.... most human males Ive talked to are after one thing..... and thats females"

<Sanosuke> "Really? Is that cause my race isn't very populated right now?"

<Zidane> "Well.... your kind just seems kinda lusty"

<Sanosuke> Gourry nodded. "I've seen it."

<Zidane> "And the only human female Ive ever seen without a male is our Captain....."

<Sanosuke> "There's another human female onboard, and she's without anyone too. That Rinoa girl.

<Sanosuke> "

<Zidane> "Yes.... I keep forgetting about her.... she's so quiet...."

<Sanosuke> "Well, I can think of two other males that don't seem to care about girls.."

<Zidane> "Maybe thats why she got off of that station.... maybe she doesnt like males?"

<Sanosuke> Gourry shrugged. "Maybe."

<Zidane> "Which ones are those ..... the males you were talking about?"

<Sanosuke> "The ones that have taken over your room."

<Zidane> "The male that thinks its a female?"

<Zidane> Zack chuckles

<Sanosuke> Gourry nodded. "Those two."

<Zidane> "Yes.... bizarre... how about you.... how do you feel about.... females?"

<Sanosuke> "I don't know. I like them alright but, don't know if it's anything more then that."

<Zidane> Zack nods

<Sanosuke> "Never been with them..." Gourry continued to watch the tank.

<Zidane> "I wish I could.... try a relationship..... without having to stay with them forever"

<Sanosuke> "What makes you stay forever?"

<Zidane> "Mating.... mating causes a bond...."

<Sanosuke> "Then why not try some relationships without it?"

<Zidane> "Im not sure .... how to"

<Sanosuke> "I don't know either."

<Zidane> Zack chuckles "We're both pathetic"

<Sanosuke> Gourry chuckled. "I suppose so."

<Zidane> "I want to rescue the rest of the tlugs too...."

<Sanosuke> "The one's in Fillia's room?"

<Zidane> "Yeah....."

<Sanosuke> "Want to go now and see?"

<Zidane> "she'd never...."

<Sanosuke> "Never what?"

<Zidane> "Well if she's not in her room..."

<Sanosuke> "She's out somewhere I belive."

<Zidane> "Okay... lets go then"

<Sanosuke> Gourry got up and followed Zack to Filia's room.

<Zidane> "we're going to take the whole tank.... and find a nice planet to let them loose on..."

<Sanosuke> "What type of planet?"

<Zidane> "Well... one they already live on... i guess"

<Sanosuke> "But don't Gold Dragons live on those planets?

<Zidane> "yeah... what should I do with em?"

<Sanosuke> "Not sure... maybe we should find someplace they can live and set them there where nothing comes?"

<Zidane> "maybe...."

<Sanosuke> "We first need to get the tank out of there, right?"

<Zidane> "yep.."

<Sanosuke> Gourry stopped at the door to Filia's room.

<Zidane> "Well... no stopping now.... lets get em.... and get out"

<Sanosuke> Gourry got the door open and walked in. Filia was not there.

<Zidane> Zack goes over to the tank and taps on the glass

<Sanosuke> The two adults in the tank rose up, responding to the tapping.

<Zidane> "Hey guys... gonna get you outta here..." Zack says to them

<Sanosuke> The babies all squirmed at the bottom of the tank... several layers of them.

<Zidane> "Poor things.... they look so crowded..."

<Sanosuke> "Yeah." Gourry worked on getting a grip on one end of the tank.

<Zidane> Zack gets the other end "We'll put em in your room okay?"

<Sanosuke> "Ok." Gourry groaned as he tried to lift. "This is heavey..."

<Zidane> "Its not that bad....lift..." Zack grunts

<Sanosuke> "Hey, um.. wasn't that guy with long purple hair boasting how strong he was?"

<Zidane> "yeah.... here... I'll grab him .... you wait here

<Sanosuke> "Ok." Gourry took his arms away and peered into the tank.

<Zidane> Zack goes down the hall to find Nuriko

<Sanosuke> Nuriko was in Zack's room, sitting comfortably on Hotohori's lap.

<Zidane> "Nuriko.... can you help me please?"

<Sanosuke> "Eh?" Nuriko glnaced at the door, arms around Hotohori's neck.

<Zidane> "Please.... I need you to lift something for me...."

<Sanosuke> "Alright.. alright.. come in."

<Zidane> Zack eners the room

<Sanosuke> Nuriko slid off Hotohori's lap and tightened his robe. "What you need lifted?"

<Zidane> "A tank full of tlugs"

<Sanosuke> "Tlugs?"

<Zidane> "My ancestors"

<Sanosuke> "Ok. Where is it?"

<Zidane> "In Filia's room"

<Sanosuke> "Show me."

<Zidane> Zack leads Nuriko to the room with the tank in it

<Sanosuke> Nuriko looked at the tank. "That??"

<Zidane> "Yes.... please..."

<Sanosuke> Nuriko walked over and picked it up with ease. "Fine, where am I carrying it?"

<Zidane> "To Gourry's room .... I guess"

<Sanosuke> "Where's that?"

<Sanosuke> Gourry headed off for his room.

<Zidane> "Follow Gourry...":

<Sanosuke> Nuriko did so, not even breaking a sweat from the heavey tank that both Zack and Gourry could barly lift... and yet he didn't seem to have any sort of buldging muscles.

<Zidane> "Man.... she's good...."

<Zidane> "err... he's"

<Sanosuke> "I don't care if you call me a she." Nuriko told him, carrying the tank into Gourry's room.

<Zidane> Zack smiles

<Sanosuke> "There we go." Nuriko dusted off his hands and turned to Zack,

<Zidane> "Thank you thank you!"

<Sanosuke> "You're welcome. I;m back to cuddling with Hotohori..." And he left.

<Sanosuke> "He's.. strong..." Gourry said in awe.

<Zidane> "Yeah.... really strong..."

<Sanosuke> "He said he was human too...."

<Zidane> "Cant be.... "

<Sanosuke> Nuriko plopped back down on Hotohori's lap.

<Sanosuke> "What then? If not human?" Gourry asked, sitting on his bed

<Zidane> Zack shrugs and puts a blanket over the Tlug tank.... trying to hide it

<Zidane> "Dont know...."

<Sanosuke> "Anything else that looks human?"

<Zidane> "Draz.... but I would know..."

<Zidane> Zac plunks down next to Gourry

<Sanosuke> Gourry nodded. "And even Draz arn't THAT strong.. since both of us together really couldn't lift the tank.... that reminds me, how did Fillia get it on board?"

<Zidane> "Dragons are strong like that..."

<Sanosuke> "Dragons have horns though... and tails... he didn't have a tail or horns...."

<Zidane> "true...."

<Sanosuke> "Unless they were removed, but that would leave scars.. right?"

<Zidane> Yeah....

<Sanosuke> Gourry became lost in thought

<Sanosuke> Meanwhile, Filia's scream came from down the hall once she saw her room had been broken into.

<Zidane> Lina who is headed back to her quarteres looks at Filia funny

<Sanosuke> "My roooommmm!!! They're goonnneee!! The Draz must have gotten them!"

<Zidane> "calm down Filia!"

<Sanosuke> "Grrr..." She took out her mace and headed down the hall to Zack's room.

<Zidane> "Filia!" Lina yells after her helplessly

<Sanosuke> Filia started to pound her mace into Zack's door, then stopped when she saw two other people rather thern Zack in the room.

<Zidane> Hothori is pale and swooning in fright

<Sanosuke> Nuriko was still sitting on his lap.

<Sanosuke> "Who are you??" Filia demanded as Lina got to her side.

<Zidane> "oh... you guys? How'd you get onboard?"

<Sanosuke> "We hitched..." Nuriko got off Hotohori and let them in.

<Zidane> Lina sighs

<Sanosuke> "I see Zack didn't tell you we were onboard.

<Sanosuke> "

<Zidane> "No he didnt... he was in on this too huh?"

<Sanosuke> "And the blonde he's been staying with. Gourry..."

<Zidane> "Aha.... "

<Zidane> "Are they..... together?"

<Sanosuke> "I don't know. I've been to busy in here with Hotohori."

<Sanosuke> Filia blinked. "That's a constilation name, same as Tasuki...."

<Zidane> "Thats nice.... you know what guys.... Im going to sleep... Im really fed up with this "

<Sanosuke> "I want my food back!!!" Filia yelled.

<Sanosuke> "Food?" Nuriko asked.

<Zidane> "Why dont you guys settle it... go in an airlock and see who can hold thier breath long enough...."

<Sanosuke> Filia growled and walked into the room as Nuriko sighed.

<Sanosuke> "Get sleep captain.." Nuriko said, shutting the door.

<Zidane> Lina grumbles and retires to her quarters

<Sanosuke> "We're my tank..." Filia threatend Hotohori with her mace.

<Sanosuke> were's^

<Zidane> "I... I dont know...."

<Sanosuke> Nuriko growled. "Let him alone!"

<Zidane> Filia pokes her mace into Nuriko's face

<Zidane> "Where are they..."

<Sanosuke> Nuriko narrowed his eyes and placed his hands on either side of the mace. "I'm not telling you."

<Zidane> "Tell me.....they are my property..."

<Sanosuke> "No way. They're living things...."

<Zidane> "They are my food...."

<Sanosuke> "Ewww... grosssssss." Nuriko stuck out his tongue.

<Zidane> “Some of the things you humans eat is gross”

<Sanosuke> "Like what?"

<Zidane> "Brains of animals.... feet... "

<Sanosuke> "And you don't? Those little things have brains too."

<Zidane> "Hardly...."

<Sanosuke> Nuriko pulled the heavey mace out of Filia's hands and let it wam into the wall behind him at high speeds....

<Zidane> Filia blinks

<Zidane> "You...... "

<Sanosuke> "Leave us alone... I'm not telling you where they are."

<Zidane> "What are you? How did you lift...."

<Sanosuke> Nuriko walked over to the mace and pulled it from the wall, tossing it back to Filia. "Leave...":

<Zidane> Filia growls....

<Zidane> "Your probably... one of those dirty... Mazoku!"

<Sanosuke> "Am not, go away!"

<Zidane> Filia backs out of the room and returns to hers... defeated

<Sanosuke> Nuriko sighed and sat down on Hotohori's lap again.

<Sanosuke> "You ok darling?"

<Zidane> Hotohori nods "You arent going to give up..... are you?"

<Sanosuke> "Give up on what?"

<Zidane> "Trying to get me to..... "

<Sanosuke> "You.. don't want me?" Nuriko frowned/.

<Zidane> "I.... Im still not sure:

<Sanosuke> Nuriko nuzzled at Hotohori's neck."Why not?”

<Zidane> Hotohori's begins breathing heavier

<Sanosuke> Nuriko wrapped his arms around him.

<Zidane> "N.... Nuriko...."

<Sanosuke> "Mmm? Yes Hotohori?"

<Zidane> Hotohori musters his courage and kisses Nuriko

<Sanosuke> Nuriko purrs and kissed back, snuggling in Hotohori's warm lap.

<Zidane> "Just.... dont expect me to ..... you know..... just yet"

<Sanosuke> "Ok." Nuriko just snuggled. "You're nice and warm."

<Zidane> Hotohori puts his arms around Nuriko and hugs him

<Sanosuke> Nuriko nuzzled some more at Hotohori's neck, hair falling over his shoulder.

<Sanosuke> He kissed hotohori's neck.

<Zidane> Hothohori sighs

<Sanosuke> Nuriko looked up at him. "You alright?"

<Zidane> "Yeah... just content"

<Sanosuke> Nuriko smiled and kissed his lips softly. "Good."

<Zidane> Hotohori lies back and draws Nuriko with him

<Sanosuke> Nuriko smiled and lay on him, gazing down into his eyes.

<Zidane> Hotohori smiles back and strokes his fingers along Nuriko's cheeks

<Sanosuke> Nuriko smiled back, his cheeks smooth almost like silk.

<Zidane> "so.... what do we do?"

<Sanosuke> "Don't know. What do you want to do?"

<Zidane> "Sleep?"

<Sanosuke> "Alright... Sleep."

<Sanosuke> Meanwhile... Fillia decided Gourry's room was the next likely target, so she knocked on the door.

<Sanosuke> She pounded on his door.

<Zidane> "Ohh man.... Gourry...."

<Zidane> "Dont let her in!"

<Sanosuke> "LET ME IN NOW!!!" Filia screamed, ready to pound her mace through the door.

<Sanosuke> "She's gonna break the door!" Gourry cowered.

<Zidane> Zack gets up..... shaking.... and opens the door

<Sanosuke> Filia barged past him. "Where's my food!?"

<Zidane> "Im not letting you take em!"

<Sanosuke> "You stole them from me!"

<Zidane> "You cant own life!"

<Sanosuke> "They're my dinner! Give them back!" Filia threatend him with her mace.

<Zidane> "no!"

<Sanosuke> "Grr... I know your not as strong as that... thing... in the other room."

<Zidane> "Youre gonna have to kill me...."

<Sanosuke> "Kill you? Over some Tlugs???"

<Zidane> "Yes... they are my ancestors...."

<Sanosuke> "But... but... they're my food! I need to eat!"

<Zidane> "you can eat replicator rations like the rest of us"

<Sanosuke> "But, that's disgusting!"

<Zidane> "Im not lettin you take em"

<Sanosuke> "Fine... I'll get us to the closest gold dragon world and buy some more."

<Zidane> "no.. as long as im on board you arent eating a live one...."

<Sanosuke> "I will hide them from you then... and from that thing.. what ever it is..." Filia walked out of the room.

<Zidane> Zack sighs

<Sanosuke> Gourry looked at him. "What was she talking about? An it?"

<Zidane> "I dont know.... I dont care... " Zack whimpers and climbs into gourry's lap.... needing comfort

<Sanosuke> Gourry stroked his hair. "Maybe we can tell the captain not to go where Filia wants?"

<Zidane> "Maybe.... if the captain even listens...."

<Sanosuke> "Maybe she will not listen to Filia?"

<Zidane> "Hopefully..."

<Sanosuke> "Yeah. What shall we do then?"

<Zidane> "Comfort me...."?"

<Sanosuke> "Sounds like a plan." Gourry stroked his hair more.

<Zidane> Zack makes an odd purring sound

<Sanosuke> "That sounds nice." Gourry told him.

<Zidane> "Wanna be my mate?"

<Sanosuke> "Your mate?"

<Zidane> "Yeah.... I want a mate...."

<Sanosuke> "Hmm... sounds neat, that's a life bond, right?"

<Zidane> "Yeah.... forever... til we die"

<Sanosuke> "Sounds kind of nice." Gourry smiled.

<Zidane> "You..... wont have to worry about being lonely or anything"

<Zidane> Zack almost sounds desperate

<Sanosuke> "I've always hated being lonely..."

<Zidane> Zack's hair rubs against Gourry's chin as he nuzzles sleepily

<Zidane> "You can think on it a while...."

<Sanosuke> Gourry smiled. "Alright. I will.”

<Zidane> Zack purrs and starts fallin asleep

<Sanosuke> Gourry stroked his hair and lay back.

<Zidane> Zack sprawls out on Gourry's warm body and falls into a deep sleep

<Sanosuke> Xellos was waiting for Lina again.

<Zidane> Lina sighs "yess?"

<Sanosuke> "Having Fun Lina?"

<Zidane> "Not really..."

<Sanosuke> "Well, you will. Your ship is heading for the test zone of the weapon..."

<Zidane> "Great.... "

<Zidane> "Im setting my dreamset for brain fry...."

<Sanosuke> "You mean this?" Xellos held it up.

<Zidane> "Give...."

<Sanosuke> "Nope." He smiled.

<Zidane> "Thats the only way I can ever know Terra..... give it back"

<Sanosuke> Xellos waked her over the head with his staff, and she was out cold, into a strange dream...

<Zidane> "What the hell ....."

<Sanosuke> She was on a planet.. and the sky was dark... but there were strange pink clouds floating by.

<Zidane> "What is this?"

<Sanosuke> "A dream..." Came Xellos's voice.

<Zidane> "What kind of weird dream is this?"

<Sanosuke> "Something from me to you..."

<Zidane> "Great... just what I need.... "

<Sanosuke> There was no plant life...

<Zidane> "Where is this?"

<Sanosuke> something rubbed against her leg.

<Zidane> "Ekk!"

<Zidane> "Xellos.... give my dreamset back and leave me alone....!"

<Sanosuke> It looked like a green bunny, and it rubbed against her leg.

<Zidane> "Umm.... Xellos... now.... this is scary"

<Sanosuke> "Scary?" Came his voice.

<Zidane> "Yes..... I want to dream about Terra.... you dont know what its like.... not having a planet...."

<Sanosuke> "Don't judge what you don'

<Sanosuke> t know Lina."

<Sanosuke> The green bunny jumped into her arms.

<Zidane> Lina frowns "I was born on a station.... I always have this dull ache.... the lighting isnt right.... the air isnt right.... "

<Sanosuke> The bunny licked her nose.

<Zidane> "C'mon give my dream back.... "

<Sanosuke> It suddenly changed to her planet.. the bunny was gone.

<Zidane> Lina sighs

<Sanosuke> "This better?" His voice asked.

<Zidane> "Yes.... its all Ive got left of knowing what its like...."

<Zidane> "There arent even many who can tell stories about it..... "

<Sanosuke> "It was such a pretty planet once..."

<Zidane> "Yeah... then humans came along and just about destroyed it once..... we were getting back on track..... so I had heard..... "

<Sanosuke> "Yep. And then a scientest invented Griever.... and the Draz, fearing the power, came in and wiped your planet. But Griever was smugled off anyway.. and the leaders were killed by their own son, who wanted the griever...

<Zidane> "How appropriate it was named Griever... "

<Sanosuke> "How come?"

<Zidane> "Griever..... greif... my whole species... lost the place it called home in one fell swoop"

<Sanosuke> "How very true. And now you've settled on many worlds and stations."

<Zidane> "And Im sure they all feel the same pangs..."

<Zidane> "We evolved on a world.... became suited to that world..... now its gone... and theres never going to be one exactly the same....."

<Sanosuke> "Excet the ones that are dying as we speak from that weapon of destruction...."

<Zidane> "Who came to save my race Xellos?"

<Sanosuke> "Save your race? You saved yourselves."

<Zidane> "Then why should I try and save the Golds...."

<Sanosuke> "because they've let humans live on their worlds... and the humans are now dying along side them."

<Zidane> "I dont care anymore...."

<Sanosuke> "Suit yourself. Maybe you'll come with me then."

<Zidane> "Humanity probably should have died... "

<Sanosuke> "Ah my dear girl.. but humans pride themselves on being survivors."

<Zidane> "Im not a survivor..."

<Sanosuke> "Then why even bother making money?"

<Zidane> “....."

<Sanosuke> Suddenly she felt arms around her... Xellos from behind.

<Zidane> "Because even though I dont want to something makes me...." Lina says.... flinching

<Sanosuke> "That's your basic human drive my dear..."

<Zidane> "Anyway I can turn it off?"

<Sanosuke> "Nope. You humans have that in you. I've watched your race grow so I know this well."

<Zidane> "Must have been boring.... watching us do nothing but kill each other...."

<Sanosuke> "Boring? That was fun. But if you really want to see a self destructive sentiant race, look at the T'Lza..."

<Zidane> Lina squirms a litle uncomfortably "Ive seen them.... ugly things...... they shouldnt even exist... the way thier society is"

<Sanosuke> "They devower everything.. even eachother.... The leader is the one they all fear will eat them. That's how a leader comes into power among them... and they had Jenova for so long... when she died they errupted into a

<Sanosuke> free for all war..."

<Zidane> "So are they going to obliterate themselves?"

<Sanosuke> "Probably. One can only hope..."

<Zidane> "Youre omnipotent right?"

<Sanosuke> "Sore Wa Himitsu Desu/"

<Sanosuke> He smiled.

<Zidane> "well.... is there a world like Terra out there?"

<Zidane> "Or is that another secret?"

<Sanosuke> "There are always other worlds.... and yes, there are some like Terra."

<Zidane> "I think.... once I get rid of my crew..... do what I have to do.... Im going to search....."

<Sanosuke> "Going to get them killed too?"

<Zidane> "no... and you know the last time was an accident...."

<Sanosuke> "True.. but it was still fun. Anyway, your crew is mostly doomed by your actions anyway. HE's gonna be after your ship too."

<Zidane> "Why does everything I come across become doomed?

<Sanosuke> "Another part of your nature my dear. Of course, he will not blow your ship up with his brother on board..."

<Zidane> Lina blinks "So it is an Ancient dragon?"

<Sanosuke> "Of course. Nakago, just as Tasuki figured out."

<Zidane> "they probably all should have died too....."

<Sanosuke> "They all did.. but for one.. who's been around for 10000 years..."

<Zidane> "Ive heard he's nuts"

<Sanosuke> "Yes. His lover takes care of him now. Oh, and do you know what else is interestingon your ship?"

<Zidane> "What?"

<Sanosuke> "You got three people named after three different stars in a constilation on your ship..."

<Zidane> "Ahh.... you know.... I hate being a focal point for freaks and disaster"

<Zidane> "I just want to find a place.... and have my dreams....."

<Sanosuke> "Then come away with me and let your crew get killed..."

<Zidane> "Come away.... where?"

<Sanosuke> "Anywhere. Anywhere you want."

<Zidane> "How can you make that kind of offer?"

<Sanosuke> "Because I can."

<Zidane> "But I cant do that to them...."

<Sanosuke> "Then wake up and save them..."

<Zidane> "You whacked me on the head.... "

<Sanosuke> "I mearly put you into this dream."

<Zidane> Lina sighs "How long have I been out? Im not leaving til Ive gotten enough sleep"

<Sanosuke> "Don't worry Lina... you're rested..."

<Zidane> "You better have been in here.... and not been touchin me out there...."

<Sanosuke> Xellos grinned. "You're a deap sleeper Lina..."

<Zidane> "You didnt do anything to me.... did you?" Lina says... a slight edge of panic edging into her voice

<Sanosuke> "Sore Wa Himitsu Desu..." Xellos grinned and vanished, leaving her to wake up screaming.

<Zidane> Lina flails for a moment before she forces herself to calm down

<Sanosuke> She had work to do... saving her crew.

<Zidane> "Al... sound a red alert please....."

<Sanosuke> The sirens blared, waking everyone on the ship up.

<Sanosuke> Gourry ahhed and jumped up in bed, with Zack still on him.

<Zidane> Zack slides off of Gourry and blinks "Loud.... "

<Sanosuke> "Oww... what's going on?" Gourry asked.

<Zidane> "Dont know... lets get to the bridge"

<Sanosuke> Gourry got out of the bed. "Alright."

<Zidane> Zack hugs Gourry and pulls him along

<Sanosuke> Soon everyone was on the bridge.. even Nuriko and Hotohori.

<Zidane> "Alright guys..... got some news.... we're heading into a danger Zone.... "

<Sanosuke> "Danger Zone?" Filia asked.

<Zidane> "Its Tasuki's brother"

<Zidane> "He's going after the golds"

<Sanosuke> "AHH!!!" Filia screamed.

<Zidane> "I want weapons systems up.... I want sensor sweeps.... we have to find him before he does anything"

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis and Gourry sat down in chairs and started filling out her requests.

<Zidane> "Tasuki Im going to need you to try and talk your brother out of it when you find him...."

<Sanosuke> Edgar sat down in another seat to do his work.

<Zidane> Tasuki nods and goes over his console

<Zidane> "Just so you guys know... this ship is doomed from the start.... we're trying to change it....."

<Sanosuke> "DOOMED???" Filia yelped.

<Zidane> "Yes doomed...." Lina says dryly

<Sanosuke> Filia grabbed and started to shake her as Nuriko clung to Hotohori and whined about not wanting to die.

<Zidane> Lina moves her hand up and slaps Filia

<Zidane> "Knock it off..... I had the chance to bail on you guys and I chose to stay....."

<Sanosuke> Filia dropped her. "But.. but........"

<Sanosuke> Nuriko was still clinging to Hotohori.

<Zidane> "I could have gone off with Xellos wherever he was talking about.... but Im trying to save us..... so chill....."

<Sanosuke> Filia sat down in a chair and put her mace over her lap. "We have to do something!!"

<Zidane> "We are trying"

<Sanosuke> "Captain.." Zelgadis said, "We're approuching a colony but.... well... I think it's gone... all I can see on my screen is an ice belt..."

<Zidane> "Damn... any ships in the area?"

<Sanosuke> "Yes... one.... it's leaving the system."

<Zidane> "Set course to follow.... try hailing it as soon as we're in range"

<Sanosuke> "Yes sir!" Gourry yelled.

<Zidane> Lina chuckles "sir... thats funy"

<Sanosuke> "We're in range.." Zelgadis said.

<Zidane> "Hail please"

<Sanosuke> The screen changed to that of that Draz they had handed the weapon to... along with a figure hidden in the shadows behind him.

<Zidane> "You.... cease this at once..... or I will be forced to take Action"

<Sanosuke> "Why?" He grinned at her, his arms folded. "You, don't get involved in this. Your race has already suffered enough."

<Zidane> "My race coinhabits some of the worlds you are planning to attack..... cease and decist....."

<Sanosuke> "They shouldn't be there in this first place..."

<Zidane> "Do not force me to open fire...."

<Sanosuke> "hah hah, very funny. I know you have at least one ancient gold on board... surrender her to us and you may go peacfully..."

<Sanosuke> Filia frowned and stood up.

<Zidane> "I dont sacrifice crew members"

<Zidane> Lina signals for a weapons lock

<Sanosuke> "Then you can all die..."

<Sanosuke> Filia put her hand on Lina's shoulder. "No.. wait... I'll surrender if you'll leave them be,,,:

<Zidane> "They're going to kill you Filia..."

<Sanosuke> "I don't care.. if it means saving your lives.. and maybe.. maybe I can reason with them somehow..."

<Zidane> "I dont have time for Heros..."

<Sanosuke> Filia walked off the bridge.

<Sanosuke> Nuriko was still crying on Hotohori, clutching him tightly.

<Sanosuke> Rinoa frowned as she watched Filia go.

<Zidane> Lina growls

<Zidane> ~I cant change fate.... can I?~

<Sanosuke> The Draz on the screen was watching them with narrowed eyes, then turned his attention to something. "It seems she has gotten into a pod and has left the ship..."

<Zidane> The figure behind tamahome speaks "pick up that pod..."

<Sanosuke> "yes sir!" and the transmision cut off.

<Sanosuke> Zelgadis glanced at Tasuki.

<Zidane> "Thats Nakago..... " Tasuki says sadly

<Sanosuke> Zel stood up and pulled his arms around Tasuki, to try and sooth him.

<Sanosuke> The ship on the screen started to move off again.

<Zidane> "follow at a distance... "

<Sanosuke> "YES SIR!" Gourry shouted again, following her orders.

<Sanosuke> On the other ship Filia shook in her pod... terrified.

<Zidane> "Open it Tamahome.... " Nakago says, standing away in case Filia has a weapon

<Sanosuke> Tamahome did as he was told and Filia fell out, clutching her mace.

<Zidane> Nakago chuckles "Welcome aboard.... Gold Dragon...."

<Sanosuke> "Why are you doing this?" She asked, standing up and looking at him.

<Zidane> "Im fulfilling my father's wishes

<Sanosuke> "Your father wishes to kill innocent people???"

<Zidane> "I wish for his pain to be gone...."

<Sanosuke> "You're father is a nut... you've killed innocent people! You're evil!"

<Zidane> "My father is insane because of what your people did to him"

<Sanosuke> "That was the great mistake! Those responcible have been dead a while now..."

<Zidane> "Yet there are still those among you who wish us dead"

<Sanosuke> "Then why not kill them??? Why are you trying for the rest of us??"

<Zidane> "Because you can not find all of them and kill them...."

<Sanosuke> "We're not murderers.... at least I'm not, I don't go killing innocent people."

<Zidane> "Your kind killed an entire species..... almost"

<Sanosuke> "So you judge an entire race on the actions of our leaders? Especially when those leaders have been dead a while?"

<Zidane> "I will let them suffer the same pain...."

<Sanosuke> "Why??"

<Zidane> "So my father will get better"

<Sanosuke> "Your father is insane because he's so old!"