A/N: I'd like to apologize in advance for the way things seem to fly by in this chapter, the utter lack of detail and the fact that it may be a little boring. In my defense, I wanted to get all this stuff out of the way (I know, always my excuse isn't it?) and get on to the good and fun stuff (which will begin in the next chapter). So, without any further adieu, on with the show!
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or any of the characters.
After a few days of packing and spending a little more time together, Gina and crew packed up their things and supplies, ready to hit the road - or more accurately, the sky. They had decided to call the ship Cyjeuin, which in Al Bhed meant Saviour.
"I'll send a message through the commspheres about our arrangement." Shinra told everyone before departure. "We have to let them know to contact you guys now instead of us."
"Except Djose temple." Gippal said. "I want to tell them myself."
Shinra nodded.
"OK. Except Djose temple. Are you all set? Any questions?"
Gina took one look at her new ship, smiled, then looked back at Shinra.
"Nope, I think we're all set. Thanks for the help Shinra. And you guys too. It's been fun."
"Yea, it has." Yuna agreed with a smile, giving Gina a big hug.
After a warm farewell and a round or two of hugs all around, Gina, Kena and Gippal boarded the ship and took off. Once everyone was settled in and had their bearings, they decided to go and straighten things out at Djose temple - and also so Gippal could gather his things.
"Oh, something I should warn you about." Gippal told Gina casually as they watched the scenery go by below them. "You might wanna be careful around some of the men, they come from all over and some of 'em are kinda... raw. Someone once looked at a guy the wrong way and he nearly tore him apart. Literally, what a mess. Just something I thought you should know."
Gina frowned at Gippal and the way he casually spoke something so serious. She was starting to think she just might stay aboard the ship when they arrived at Djose.
The Cyjeuin touched down in Djose on the second day after their departure. Kena walked off the ship after Gippal and looked around curiously while Gina was less excited. She remembered the description, and more after, that Gippal had used to describe some of his workers and the people who hung around looking for jobs.
Gina looked around at all the people around her and either received smiles from them or polite nods of the head. She returned the gestures but imagined in her mind that the nasty people Gippal had told her about were simply not around or not out and about yet. As such, she stuck close to the man as they walked towards his quarters.
It was when Gina was examining a particularly interesting machina device she'd just passed that someones voice stopped her and nearly caused her to jump into Gippal's arms.
"Hello there! I am honored to meet you! Your are the infamous Gina, no? And this must be your beautiful masterpiece, Kena?"
Gina had been so surprised by the bulky man's rough voice that it took her a few moments to overcome her shock and reply. By the time she did, the red machina was already being flattered on all sides by flocks of people.
"Well.. yes actually, I- Woah!"
Gina gasped as someone picked her up and gave her a tight squeeze before putting her back down again.
"Such an honor to meet you Miss Gina! We wondered when you would visit Djose again." Said a thick Al Bhed accent.
Gina looked at the second hulking man and smiled at him. Never in her life had she felt so welcome and at home somewhere - except perhaps Besaid.
Kena looked like she was thoroughly enjoying herself as men and women all over admired and complimented her, gently touching and looking her over reverently, walking then over to talk to Gina.
Eventually, after a long time of answering questions and comments and handing out confused smiles all around, a blonde woman cocked her head at Gina.
"Why do you seem so surprised?" She asked thickly.
Gina was surprised, and her face showed it further at the asking of such a question.
"Uh, well... it's just, I didn't expect such a welcome from here."
The Al Bhed all around her looked more surprised and confused then she did.
"Well why not? You are one of us, no?"
Gina smiled fondly at this as she welled up with emotion. But her bubble was suddenly burst as someones strong laughter pierced the silence.
"Yea Gina, what's wrong with you? You're an Al Bhed aren't you? Why be afraid of your own people?"
Gina turned to Gippal's mocking voice and gave him an unamused look.
"Gee, I dunno." She said casually. "Might have been something I heard." She said suggestively, causing him to laugh harder.
"What, really? Now where would you hear something bad about these fine folks?"
Gina smiled lightly and shook her head. She now knew what she was up against if she was going to be riding with the blonde.
Looking back and forth at the two, an older looking woman smiled fondly at them.
"Ah, young love." She said thickly.
Both Gina and Gippal's eyes widened at this and they exchanged looks.
"What? No, it's not-"
"Oh wow, is it really that obvious?" Gina asked, cutting Gippal off and seizing the opportunity for revenge as she jumped to grab Gippal's arm. Hanging off of him she batted her eyelashes and hugged him close.
"I just forget sometimes how easy it is to get lost in his glory. He's so wonderful. Leader of the Machine Faction, a powerful warrior, ex-military. And then there's the fact that he's simply the most stunningly gorgeous Al Bhed I've ever seen - no offense guys - how can I not be swooned by such magnificence?"
Gina had to bite back a laugh and grin as Gippal starred down at her as if she'd lost her mind. The remaining Al Bhed however, though some did seem to have caught on to what was going on, looked at the two with adoring eyes.
"Such a perfect pair." Said one of the men who had first surprised her. "Such a strong and valuable pair are well-matched."
Gippal, finally having realized his own joke had been turned against him, wrapped an arm around Gina and pulled her close in an effort not to be outdone.
"Oh yea, we're a match made in heaven." He said, looking down at the dark-haired Al Bhed dreamily "In fact, we'd better get going now or we'll miss our daily cuddle time together."
Without warning, Gippal suddenly bent down and scooped Gina into his arms as he walked with purpose back to the ship.
Gina finally burst into laughter and wrapped her arms around the blonde for effect, leaving the Djose Al Bhed and other visitors behind; some with confused faces, some unamused, and some with dreamy and loving faces having still not caught on to the joke.
"Come along Kena, lest you be left behind." Gina said bubbly.
The small, red machina shook her head with a smile as she bid farewell to her admirers and headed off after her crew.
Once on the ship, having waved goodbye to the Djose occupants while they waited for the doors to close, Gippal dropped Gina to her feet when they were out of view. Both Al Bhed laughed heartily while Kena again shook her head and walked off to start up the ship.
"Well, that didn't go quite like you thought it would did it?" Gippal asked smugly. Gina grinned as she walked to the stairs leading to the control center.
"On the contrary, it worked just fine. I got you going didn't I?"
Gippal raised an eyebrow with a smirk and opened his mouth to reply but Gina cut him off.
"Where's your stuff? You didn't get anything?"
Gippal laughed and leaned back to rest his hands on the railing of the stairs.
"Sure I did. I got all my gear and straightened out all my affairs while you and you pet project were busy with your fans."
Gina rubbed behind her head as she grinned sheepishly.
"Oh. Right... I meant to help you, sorry."
Gippal's grin faded to a small smile as he walked past Gina and headed up the stairs, taking the time to ruffle her hair on his way past.
"Don't worry about it Miss popular. I've managed this long without you, I think I can handle it."
Gina gave Gippal's back a mock glare as she fixed her now-messy hair.
"Excuse me Mr. genius." She said mockingly. "Should have known you wouldn't need help from little ol' me."
Gippal waved a hand over his shoulder dismissively as he reached the top of the stairs, not bothering to look back at the woman.
"Ah, it happens. Don't worry about it."
Gina smiled and rolled her eyes as she finally followed the blonde up the stairs.
Once everyone was settled in, Gina sat back in her seat, intending to enjoy the view out the window as they flew over the lands. Unfortunately, someone else had other plans for them.
"Hey, answer that will you?" Gippal said, pointing at her from across the room.
"Huh?" Gina questioned, looking around as she attempted to figure out what Gippal was talking about.
"Behind you. See the green light flashing? Press the green button."
Gina turned around and saw what Gippal was talking about, causing her to smile wide.
"We have a call?" She said excitedly as she reached out and pressed the button.
Along with a new voice, an image appeared before her too and Gina couldn't help but smile at the Gullwings now smiling at her and waving.
"Hey Ginny!" Rikku greeted enthusiastically. "How's it goin'? All settled in yet?"
"Hey change the channel, I don't like this show."
Rikku stuck her tongue out at Gippal who had appeared over Gina's shoulder and the dark-haired Al Bhed shook her head at their playfulness.
"Almost." Gina answered in reply to the blonde woman's question.
"Glad to hear it." Rikku said with a smile. She then looked over to her right. "The boy genius wants to talk to you."
Shinra appeared in the center of the screen. The small boy greeted the Al Bhed and began to explain how everything worked. Once he was finished and satisfied that the two knew everything they needed to know, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Well, that's it then." He said importantly. "If you have any questions at all, just give me a call and I'll be happy to help."
"Thank you Shinra. We'll remember that." Gina said politely.
Everyone said their fond farewells and ended the conversation. Once the link was closed, Gippal turned a cheeky grin on Gina.
"Looks like someones got a crush." He said teasingly. Gina rubbed her arm nervously.
"Who me?" She replied, trying to sound indifferent. Had she been giving Tidus odd looks again? She hadn't meant to. She was over that... and him.
Gippal shook his head, grin still wide.
"Nope. The kid. I think he's got a crush on you."
Gina's nervousness immediately evaporated to be replaced with a hint of confusion mixed with a look of absurdity.
"What? Don't be stupid, he's just a boy."
Gippal leaned back and put his hands in his pockets.
"Never to young for puppy love." He said in a sing songy voice, turning and walking away from her as he began to whistle.
Gina rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. I'm going to explore the ship. Wanna come?"
"Nope." Gippal replied without hesitation. Gina watched him as he sat down in a huge padded seat next to Kena and leaned back in it as he kicked his feet up on the control panel and closed his eyes.
"Don't you wanna see what it looks like? Get familiar with it?"
"Nope." The blonde replied again. "I helped build it. I know what it looks like."
Gina rolled her eyes again and Kena angrily pushed Gippal's feet off the control board, scolding him for it. Unaffected by her scolding, Gippal simply relocated his feet to a nearby ledge before speaking again.
"The beauty about machines and machina is that they don't change unless you do it for them. Amazing really."
Gina finally sighed in defeat and walked off to explore alone.
"Fine, suit yourself." She replied indifferently. And with nothing more to say she turned and left her crew behind.
When Gina had explored and familiarized herself with each and every part of the ship, she ended up finding herself atop it on the deck. She smiled as the wind blew her hair back and around her, passing her by as they did the lands below them. She'd asked Kena to take the ship a little lower below the clouds and now she was fully enjoying the scenery of Spira from a point of view of which she'd never had the opportunity before.
A mechanical sound from behind her indicated that someone had just come through the door and joined her. Her suspicions were proven correct as a certain blonde man appeared beside her and mimicked her position against the railing as he starred at the scenery before him.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Gina said with a smile. Gippal shrugged indifferently, not appearing the least bit interested.
"It's OK." He said honestly. Gina was unfazed.
"I traveled just about everywhere in Spira over my years and I've seen all those places multiple times, been all over every nook and cranny, seen every rock, field and place possible. But I was always in a hurry, busy, had a tight agenda, had something on my mind, whatever. I never really got the chance to take it all in before and now that I do... it's a little surprising to see what I've been missing; it's amazing."
Gippal looked over at Gina in surprise and starred at her for a moment. He could see the truth on her face and noted that for the first time since he'd met her, the woman actually looked peaceful, relaxed - happy.
The blonde looked back out over the scene and saw, for the first time what she was seeing. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty that she had never had real relaxation or peace or anything he had always taken for granted. His life was far from simple but at least he'd had a chance now and again to stop and smell the flowers - not that he ever did.
"Guess I never realized how much I took for granted." He said softly.
Without meaning to, in such a short time of knowing her, the woman beside him was already opening his eyes to more then he ever imagined he'd see.
Click, flicker, click.
...
Click, flicker, click.
...
Click, flicker, click.
Gippal grabbed his head and yelled out in annoyance before jumping up form his seat and grabbing the item in Gina's hands.
"That's not a toy!" He scolded her, putting the small item on a nearby stand. "And you're driving me crazy!"
Gina sighed. In the dead silence, without a thing to do, Gina had been playing with a small machina device meant for cutting through thick metal. It was a sort of laser-type device and turned on with the click of a silver button. Gina had been clicking the device, allowing it to flicker into existence, then clicked the button to extinguish it again. The small, insignificant sound had seemed like thunder in the dead of silence, and with his currently already fragile state of mind - what with being bored out of his skull - Gippal had lost his patience and taken the object away from the woman.
Now with nothing to do, Gina sighed dramatically with impatience.
"I'm so bored!" She said in exasperation. "I thought the Gullwings were always off chasing fiends and whatever, I expected there to be more action."
Gippal tilted his head back as he starred at the ceiling.
"They used to get a lot of calls when Vegnagun was still around, but now I guess not much is happening anymore. The peaceful calm and all that junk. Insanely boring if you ask me. At least when that thing was around there was still some action."
Gina blew out a breath of air as she looked around the ship absently, searching desperately for something to occupy her. Her eyes passed over a blinking red light on the control board and did a double take as they shot back to examine it. After a few moments of searching her memory Gina finally remembered what the light was for and jumped up excitedly.
"What? What's wrong with you?" Gippal asked, looking over at the woman questioningly.
"The distress call!" Gina replied excitedly. "We forgot to turn on the alarm or buzzer thingy or whatever! We have a call!"
Gippal jumped up and ran over next to Gina to hear what the call said.
"Hello? Hello? Please come help us! There are fiends attacking some tourists and our hovers!"
Gina grinned happily.
"We'll be right there, just hang in there!"
Gina closed the link and turned to Gippal.
"Careful what you wish for I guess." She said happily, looking then over at Kena in the pilot chair. "Set a course for the Calm Lands Kena!"
When the Cyjeuin landed in the Calm Lands the crew exited and looked around. Gina scratched behind her head in confusion as nothing greeted her eyes. After walking and looking around for a while, the three finally spotted a group of people gathered in a huddle. Walking over to the group, Gina tapped someone on the outside on the shoulder.
"What's going on?" She asked curiously. "And where are all the fiends?"
"We scared them off." The man said. "Most of them ran away but there's one left. They're taking care of it now."
Gina frowned and pushed her way through the crowd to the inside. The scene that greeted her when she reached the middle however appalled her and made her gasp in horror.
On the ground was a Queen Coeurl, bloodied and beaten and being continually pummeled by a few big men around it.
"Stop!" She yelled in horror, causing the men to stop and look at her questioningly. "Can't you see it's beaten! That's enough!"
"But it's a fiend!" They argued.
"I don't care!" Gina snapped angrily. "You have no right to kick any living thing while it's down! Pick it up and take it to our ship!"
Everyone looked at Gina as if she'd completely lost her mind, and looking back, the woman wondered if for a moment she had. Gippal's face told her that he didn't agree with her decision one bit and wasn't about to allow such a thing to happen. Too bad he didn't have a say in the matter.
"Have you lost your mind?" He yelled in shock. "It's a fiend! A very deadly fiend! Ya know, kill you in one hit type deal! What's the matter with you?"
"Who's ship is it?" Gina asked, glaring at the blonde defiantly. Gippal tripped over his words for a while and when it seemed he was going to say no more, Gina turned her glare on the men. "Take it to my ship. It's the least you could do after we made a trip all the way here for nothing."
Looking both ashamed and bewildered, a group of hulking men walked up to the fiend and hoisted the massive feline into their arms. Leading the way, Gina walked back to the Cyjeuin, leaving a very nervous and disapproving Gippal to helplessly follow in their wake.
Once on board their ship, Gina instructed the men to bring the beast into the main deck. They placed it on a table there and quickly left as fast as possible. Gina pulled a chair up to the table and ignored Gippal's protests as both her and Kena administered aid to the poor creature.
"From the looks of things, I'd say her pack left her to die after they knew they were beaten." Kena said thoughtfully, sewing a deep wound in the coeurl's side closed. Gina frowned deeply.
"That's terrible." She said softly. "Poor thing. We'll just have to make sure she's good and strong before releasing her into the wild again. Hopefully she doesn't try to kill us before then."
Having given up trying to change Gina's mind long ago, Gippal peered over her shoulder curiously as he stood behind her with crossed arms.
"She? It's a she?"
"That's right." Kena replied, snipping off the string she was using. "I'd say it was probably the leader of a pack of normal coeurls too considering Queen Coeurls don't usually like following a leader."
Gippal sighed before turning and walking off elsewhere.
"Well, I'm telling you now; if that thing tries to kill me and it comes down to me and her, don't think for a second that I'll pick her just because you two have suddenly developed a death wish."
"Oh no! Hell no! You said as soon as it was better! I've kept one eye open while I slept for days and I've waited too long for this day to come for it to be ruined now!"
Gina frowned at Gippal.
"But she has nowhere to go and she doesn't want to leave. You saw us, we tried to let her go but she kept coming back. Besides, there's lots of room for her on board."
"I am not staying on this ship with that thing any longer! It's me or it!"
Gina sighed in defeat and Gippal smirked in triumph.
"Okay, fine." Gina said simply, turning to walk away from him. "But it's a long walk back to Djose."
Gippal's smirk immediately dropped off his face as he ran to catch up with Gina.
Weeks later found Gippal sprawled out in his usual padded seat while Gina sat close by in hers in a similar position. At her feet was the Coeurl they'd rescued, whom Gina and Kena had decided to simply dub 'QC'. The ex-fiend was snoozing lazily, now fully healed as the human occupants of the room laid back in exhaustion.
"Damn..." Gina drawled.. "I didn't think it would take this much out of me..."
"Hey, you wanted the job." Gippal replied across from her, not bothering to move or open his eyes.
"I know." Gina said, opening her eyes to look down at QC and gently stroke her head. "And I'm not complaining. I'm just saying. I mean, we've had at least half a dozen fiend or emergency of some kind calls a week in the past few weeks, and most of them have been pretty tiring. I know I wanted some action, and I'm glad we got it, but it would be nice to have a slight waiting spell in between."
"Yea." Gippal said simply.
The blonde finally sat up and stretched, then stood up and stretched again.
"Well, enough sitting around, time to do something."
Gina looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"We just sat down."
"Exactly." The man replied. "We haven't had a call since yesterday so we might as well take the time to do something we want to while we've got the chance."
Gina looked at him for a moment before smiling.
"What did you have in mind?"
Gippal looked at Kena, who was obviously wide awake and at the helm due to a full battery, and looked out the huge window before her.
"Hey red, can you to take us down somewhere?"
"Sure thing." The machina replied without a glance at him. "Where do you want to go?"
Gippal walked up to the machina and whispered her a set of directions. When he was sure the pilot knew where to go, he returned Gina's questioning look with a smile.
"You'll see."
When the Cyjeuin finally touched down, Gina hurried off to cure her curiosity. She looked around in amazement at the sight that met her eyes.
"It's beautiful." She said in awe. "Where are we?"
Gippal, coming up behind her, smiled as he too looked around.
"This is an oasis in the middle of Bikanel Desert. Come on, follow me."
Gina did as she was told and followed after the blonde, her head swerving this way and that as she looked around, not wanting to miss a thing. When finally the two stopped, Gippal sat her down in front of a small body of water surrounded by strange and exotic trees and cacti. It was dark out and many pyre flies danced across the little lake as the two Al Bhed sat around it gazing across.
"Tell me something I don't know about you."
Gina looked at Gippal in surprise, caught a little off guard by his sudden question.
"Excuse me...? Like what?"
Gippal gave her a shrug and a small smile.
"Dunno. Anything, whatever."
Gina placed her hands in the sand behind her and leaned back on them as she starred up into the sky.
"There's not really much to tell." She said honestly. "I already told you most of my story the first time we met."
Gippal starred at Gina for a while and after a long silence he finally spoke again.
"Well, if you want I could go first. Maybe something from my past will make you remember something."
Gina nodded and Gippal proceeded to tell her anything and everything he could think of about himself and his past. This surprised the blonde nearly as much as it did the woman beside him. He wasn't usually one to be so open and sharing with people but he also got the feeling that neither was Gina. It seemed unfair not to offer up what she wanted to know when she seemed to trust him so thoroughly.
It took a long time, but finally Gippal seemed to finish his story, Gina not having missed a word.
After a long time, and an exchanging of questions, answers and information on both sides, both Al Bhed finally laid back in the sand and starred up at the sky together.
"I feel kinda privileged." Gippal teased.
"Why?" Gina asked, rolling her head over to look at him in confusion. Gippal turned his head to return her gaze.
"Cause I get the feeling not many people know as much about you as I do now."
Gina smiled and looked up at the starry sky once more.
"Then you've got good instincts." She said softly. "Aside from maybe Rikku and Brother, no one knows as much about me as you do." Gina gave a small laugh. "So yea, you should feel privileged."
Gippal smiled and turned his attention also back to the sky. After another lengthy, comfortable silence, Gippal finally spoke up once again.
"There's one thing that's been bugging me since we met. Seems like you've got more jewelry and accessories then you'll ever need; every kind known to man meant for every skill, magic and ability you can name. I know what they're all for and if you're anything like a typical Al Bhed then I have a pretty good idea where and how you got it all. That doesn't bother me one bit. What bothers me is that I've never seen a necklace like yours before and if you don't mind me asking; what is it?"
Gina's fingers reached up and caressed the choker around her neck fondly as a smile graced her lips.
"I'm not really sure what it is except that it's supposed to be a rare stone with the power of protection or something. I don't think it really works, but I wear it anyway... it was the only thing left to me by my birth parents - my only real, biological family - and I can't help but feel... wanted, loved, watched over, when I wear it. It feels like they're watching me and taking care of me. Like I said, I consider Naha and Amad as my parents, but this necklace reminds me that I'll always belong somewhere and I'm not alone... In short, I guess I just wear it for comfort."
Gippal remained silent for a while as she processed everything Gina had said. He wasn't sure he understood it all, but he was sure he understood enough. Finally having his thoughts in order he looked back at the woman yet again and gave her a warm smile.
"Even without that necklace, you should know you always belong somewhere. You said it yourself, you're an Al Bhed, and Al Bhed stick together. No matter what. You'll always have somewhere to turn."
Gina looked at Gippal and starred at him for a long time. Finally she smiled, her eyes glinting with something Gippal couldn't identify. But before she could speak, the blonde held up his hand to stop her.
"Don't say anything." He said wearily. "That's the lamest, corniest thing I've ever said and I don't need you turning this into some girly, sappy moment. Just take what I said and leave it at that."
Gina blinked at Gippal a few times before finally bursting into laughter.
"Alright, I'll bury this moment in the depths of my mind and never speak of it again."
Gippal grinned as he fixed his eye on a particularly bright star.
"Thanks, appreciate it."
Gina smiled and shook her head before looking back up and fixing her eyes on Gippal's star as well. After a longer silence then the last, she finally spoke again, soft words barely above a whisper.
"Thank you."
Gippal stayed silent for a moment but eventually replied, just one single word, but it was more than enough and forced a smile from Gina's lips just the same.
"Welcome."
