A/N- Guess who graduated from High school, bitch?
I did.
A thousand thanks to Darkgirl5 & KaitonLocke for BETA'ing me. :)
Chapter 1
"Good morning, class!" The professor cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "Welcome to another exciting hour, or two, of Bioengineering."
Serah tried to settle in her seat. The new 'Back-to-School' feel and wonder was beginning to wear off fast by the 5th week. Being a freshman meant that new things were bound to pop up soon.
"Hiya, Serah!" Pearl chirped, taking a seat next to her.
"Hey..." Serah smiled. "What's up?" Serah and this girl totally clicked. She was kind of surprised how easy it was making new friends. In high school, she had friends but they were kind that only hung out with you in school. Most of the time they were scared away by-
Beeping, the hologram projector was activated. "Before we go into more depth, I'd like to show you real life examples of bioengineering applied to Cocoon and how it's changing life as we know it. Behind me you will see images of the Gapra Whitewood..."
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The female figure walked briskly through the university hallway, her blue cloak flowing behind her.
'B113, B114, B115...'
She noted the room number of every door she passed.
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"Playing with nature..." She looked back at Serah. "Not much." Despite her cheery disposition, Serah could see that she was incredibly uncomfortable. "W-what about you?"
"Snow almost caused me to be late this morning." Serah chuckled, making her do it too. "It's kind of-"
"Talkative, talkative..." The professor was now talking to her. He pushed up his glasses. "I'm assuming you two will be partners for the year, Ms. Farron and Ms. D-"
The door swung open. The professor fumbled his remote.
The woman took a step forward with sure confidence. The green pauldron on her shoulder glowed with three stripes signifying her rank as a Sergeant. She ignored the whispers and stares. Her cold gaze froze everything in its path as it swept across the room until finally melting away upon spotting the girl in the front row.
"Serah..." Her combat boots clacked on the tile as she approached the desk. "You forgot your binder."
'Way to make a scene!' Her friend couldn't seem to take her eyes off of her sister.
Serah's face reddened.
"T-thank you, Lightning." Serah croaked.
"Must have been the oaf's fault," She sneered, making her way out.
"I-I'll see you at home!" Serah attempted to call out before she was completely gone.
He quickly put a tissue to his nose, almost thinking he had a nose bleed. "Maker..." Professor Hylem coughed. "Err... continuing on..."
It was a quiet day at the base but that wasn't about to stop him from having fun. He spun in his office chair from laughter. This definitely wasn't the first time he used the computer inappropriately for leisure in his office.
"Captain Rygdea." The woman saluted.
He recognized the husky voice. "Ah, Sergeant Farron. I've been waiting to see you all morning. Where have you been?"
She shrugged. "Dropping something off for my sister. And I know." Lightning answered. "And what is it?"
"It?" Rygdea thought to himself. "Oh yeah... The lady's a true tribal Pulsian..." He stood up from his desk and signaled her to follow him down the carpeted hallway."I wanted you to guide a new transfer for me."
Her eyes widened. Lightning didn't normally question assignments but her of all people?
"What?"
"Yeah you!" Rygdea teased. "You'll have to get used to it because this is what you will do once you become commissioned. That isn't far away. Am I right?" Lightning nodded. Rygdea opened the door, handing her a clipboard. He stood at the door.
Lightning entered the room.
She heard a broad laugh.
"How's it goin' cowboy?" The tanned woman laughed. "Where's Ciddy?"
Rygdea smiled at her warmly. They must have already been friends. "Probably pretending to be working but actually messaging his girlfriend. Everyone is excited to meet her from his and your description. The emerald eyes, cute smile, hair as r-"
The woman noticed someone else in the room.
"Pink? Is that your natural hair color, love?"
'An accent...'
Lightning got a good look at her while she was in a short conversation with the Captain. People from Pulse stood out around here. Her hair was wild and her jade eyes contrasted with her bronzed skin. Lightning wanted to laugh at the navy curtain drape thing she was wearing. Some huntress she was...
Lightning looked down at her clipboard, not replying to the question. "Name?"
Her smile faded, becoming serious.
"What?"
"I said," Lightning stood up and repeated herself. "Name."
Wearing a cocky smile, the woman rose from her seat and got closer.
"Oerba. Yun. Fang."
Lightning growled. She didn't need to get in her face like that.
"Ok... Oerba. Give me a-"
"-Her name is Fang, Lightning. Fang Yun." Rygdea corrected with a chuckle.
Fang scoffed and looked over to Rygdea incredulously. "Who does this chick think she is?"
Lightning looked unwaveringly into her eyes. "Alright, Fang. Notable experience?"
"Look at my damn record," she remarked. "Me being from Gran Pulse and the Yun clan of hunters should be enough. We actually HAVE good fighters there, in ol' Oerba."
"Even that won't save you these days. You're miles behind us in technology." The Sergeant backed away, circling the woman.
"Pfft, technology... Because we don't eat genetically modified food or breathe filtered air?" Fang found that laughable. The food had no flavor here on Cocoon.
"I guess so..." Lightning was done. She wasn't interested in getting into a pissing contest with this immature woman. "Well Yun Oerba Fang..." The warrior woman huffed. "I'll be seeing you tomorrow. Come dressed and prepared for your fitness test. There's no way you could do anything in that blanket on you right now."
)QQQ(
The dishes were almost done.
Serah continued stare at the clock.
"Umm... Snow...?"
He heard the worry in her voice. Snow turned away from the TV with a mouthful of chips.
"Ya, babe?"
"Shouldn't you... get going?"
The light blond frowned as he rose from the couch.
"Aww," Snow whined, "Do I have to? She never comes home at ten."
What if Lightning did though?
Serah felt a pair of arms wrap around her.
"I really don't want to be sorry the day that she's on time."
The door opened.
"Or early..." Serah held her breath.
Snow held his current position behind his girlfriend.
"H-Hey, Sis!"
The eldest Farron took a single glance at the couple and marched to her room without a word.
Snow began to speak as soon as they heard the door shut. "See!" He chuckled, "She's already beginning to warm up to me n-"
"Snow!" Serah turned around to punch him lightly in the chest. "You do realize that you're the reason why Lightning had to bring my books to school earlier today, right?" Anyone else would leave, and in one piece, if they had a second chance to like this one.
Snow grabbed her hands.
"We're cool. Light's over it by now."
Lightning hung up her cloak and was in the process of removing her combat boots when her mobile, on the bed, began to beep and vibrate rapidly.
Lightning grabbed it and cleared her throat.
"Farron."
Although there had been an uncomfortable pause, the caller wasted no time getting to their point.
"We need to talk." The voice murmured. "I-I wanted to meet up with you tomorrow."
Lightning scoffed. "Was that a request?" Apparently the caller didn't find the sarcasm funny because the person remained silent.
"What time? I get off early tomorrow, about noon..."
"I'll pick you up at 3."
Before she could open her mouth to speak, the call ended with a swift beep. Lightning stared at the screen display and chucked the phone back onto the bed.
A/N- I'm quite a Newbie. While school was in, I felt so brain dead when it came to writing stories. Hopefully I will be cured these upcoming weeks. I still have the Senior Trip to SoCal this week so it isn't over completely.
Questions? Comments? Message. Review.