Title: Troublesome Cargo
Parings: Cliff/Mirage, Cliff/OC, Fayt/Maria, Albel/Nel
A/N: My first online fan fic, and in terms of personal (unreleased) fan fiction, the first to be structured for the chapter system here at Written off the back of a day dream which decided to manifest itself, I also need to thank every author that I have reviewed up to this point in time. Without your brilliant examples, I am certain this story wouldn't come into being, so thanks.
"Think it's worth it?" Mirage asked as Cliff strode over to the flashing monitor in front of the Eagle's pilot. "Let's face it, we need the money." Cliff smiled broadly as he read the scrolling text. "And anyway, a new passenger could be fun!" Mirage sighed and shook her blond head, as if she'd heard it all before in some shape or manner. Rising from her seat, she followed Cliff into the dining area where Fayt, Nel, Albel, Maria and Sophia were talking, eating or in Albel's case, glaring at the wall in front of them. Peppita wasn't on board as she was busy performing with her family and Roger stayed with her as her 'personal bodyguard'. "Hey, shut up!" Cliff demanded as he strode into the room. Mirage managed to slip in quietly behind him and take a spare seat at the table in the middle of the room. "We're going to make a quick buck by acting carrier to a little lady on Luna Station over to Expel. Quick, easy, and a high pay out. Any questions?" Nel promptly raised her hand. "What information do we have on the 'cargo'?" "Named Leios Corrigan, age unknown but appears to be around 25, human and apparently special in some way or manner." Mirage chipped in before Cliff could open his mouth. Albel rolled his eyes in disgust. "Not another maggot." Cliff turned to Albel and grinned widely at him. "Get used to the idea, blondie, she's coming onboard tomorrow!" Before any more protests could be made Cliff left the room, hands firmly on hips. Sophia stared wide eyed at the spot where Cliff once stood, still sucking the spoon she was using to eat a tub of strawberry ice-cream with; Maria sighed dismissively as Fayt draped his arms around her shoulders, hugging her for re-assurance that it'd end up okay in the end while both Nel and Albel left the room in the same direction, dark looks guarantying no-one would follow for some time. Mirage, on the other hand, just shrugged her shoulders, pulled out a can of soda from the still open fridge and began to drink undecidedly.
As the clocks hit the late hours, it was a united decision that everyone was to get some sleep. Everyone bid each other a good nights sleep before returning to their rooms. Mirage sat on the edge of her bed, considering the flight course to Luna Station tomorrow morning and her captain. "Well, he and Albel are getting along pretty well," she mused as she placed a useful star-chart onto her desk, "but it doesn't look firm. Also, he's still unresponsive." Mirage sighed as she started to change into her nightclothes. "Mother was right, Klausian men are as blind as moles when it comes to love." With a groan and another plan to catch Cliff's eye formulating slowly, Mirage finally turned off the lights and attempted to go to sleep.
Sophia padded around the room in her nightshirt and slippers, writing in her journal as she went. She talked of typical stuff, how she felt and so on, but today she made a special note about everyone's reaction to the fact that a there would be a new passenger, if only temporarily. As she sat on her bed Sophia flicked to the back of her journal and ticked several boxes and made a comment by the name of each of her companions. For Cliff: 'Blind, enthusiastic and typical self'; Albel had 'Typical with a hint of Nel'; 'Typical, with a hint of Albel' was written for Nel; 'Typical and weary' for Maria; 'Typical and on edge' for Fayt and Mirage had 'Typical and persistent'. Sophia grinned to herself as she clicked the lock on her journal shut, placed it underneath her pillow and began to sleep peacefully.
Fayt and Maria mused about tomorrow in their room. "Do you think it will be okay?" Fayt asked, resting his head on his hands. "I'm sure, just relax and go with the hunch." Maria wrapped her arms around Fayt's waist protectively and fell in a pleasant sleep. Fayt stayed awake for many more hours until he at last decided to forget about it and go with Cliff's hunch, as Maria had suggested.
Albel and Nel had not emerged since earlier that day. Clothes were discarded untidily on the floor and Nel was asleep in the bed, a satisfied smile contorted on her sleep lips. Across the room, a barely clothed Albel sharpened his sword determinedly, hissing darkly every few minutes as the thought of Cliff crossed his mind. "Both he and the new maggot had better be careful…"
The Eagle's captain was busy thinking in bed as he sorted through the day's events. It was a miracle they'd found the message advertising a courier job being signalled by a merchant ship and the pay out would cover all the payments he'd need to make for some time. But doubts still arose in his mind. "What if the girls being chased down, or is a complete nut case? I could be sticking all our necks on the line here…" He mused out loud. Cliff shook his blonde head and rolled onto his side. This would just be a quick job, no questions asked, and there is no chance the girl is a threat to the ship or it's passengers. "Just being typical paranoid me." Cliff uttered jokingly as he finally made an effort to fall asleep, and shortly did so.
A/N: Okay, chapter 1 over with! If it's a little OOC with any characters, or you find any other faults, please tell me and I'll get straight to work on them. Also, please excuse any mistakes, it's my first online fan fic after all!