Playing Nice

"And what's that supposed to mean!?!?"

"uuhhh n-n-nothing?" Duo stammers, blushing as Rei stares him down. "I was uhh referring to your beautiful hair…?"

Rei rolls her eyes. The other girls look just as annoyed. "Next time you wave that finger by your forehead, you better be talking about yourself or are prepared to lose said finger. I KNOW this sounds a little mythological-"

A distinct cough/choke/chuckle draws her glare Quatre's way. He blushes also, mumbles an "excuse me" and looks elsewhere.

Rei growls, but Mina puts a hand on her shoulder. "So they don't believe you. No problem, guys, they'll have to eventually." She flashes that confident smile, crossing her arms lazily. "Let's just hope they won't be too distracted by our celestial beauty *flips hair* and forget to duck when we're kicking butt." She makes a punching movement and laughs. "Man, how exciting is it to finally be back in business!"

Each of the girls exchange giddy glances. That exact emotion had been growing stronger as the meeting had gone on. They were a good hour into it now, and had explained their individual abilities (such as Ami's computer, Rei's fire-reading, and Lita's martial arts). Unfortunately, it was at the moment of Rei's describing her fire-reading and their combined ability to transform into Sailor Scouts that Duo had signaled to Trowa with a circled finger by his forehead, mouthing "Coocoo" as he did so. What's worse, they hadn't even revealed the history of the Sailor Scouts, past lives, royalty, and all.

Serena sighs, knowing that although Mina was right, she was afraid of revealing the whole of it. She should have been relieved. This way, she wouldn't have had to fear explaining that flying plate to Trowa and Dorthy. …but she wasn't…the whole thing still made her anxious. In fact, she was surprised that she now felt more comfortable as Rose, the Gundam Pilot, than as Serena, the Sailor Scout….and she wasn't sure she was ready to let those two lives merge. What if one disappeared under the other? She was Serena…but she was also Rose now. She felt a growing distress, a sense of having lost her identity among the many she'd been forced to adopt. …Who was she?

Her expression clears just in time…or so she'd hoped. Lita was right beside her, the ever observant one lately, and there was a chance her friend hadn't seen. But when she glances across the table….inwardly she groans, cursing her luck, and beginning to wonder if she would ever be able to hide from those omnisciently clever eyes of his. Heero's expression is blank, but she knows he's studying her. She focuses quickly on the conversation once again.

"Look, the plan is simple." Relena had interrupted another battle of wits between Wufei and Lita. "Ms. Tokihino attends a private university on the outskirts of Colony L1, and she lives in an all-girls dorm. The….Sailor Scouts…will be given fake identities, and are to be signed up as fellow hall-mates."

"Hacking into the school's main database and registrar shouldn't be a problem, but we'll also have to attend class to keep up appearances." Ami had already opened up her mini computer, fingers dancing about on its keyboard in quick sharp movements. "There are ten of us, but she's only taken five classes. I'll assign two per class, a boy and a girl just to be fair…." She pauses uncertainly, "…should I ask for preferences?"

…..Awkward Silence….

Nobody moves. They just…well…look everywhere but at each other. It was like some bad middle school prom, the girls on one side, the boys on the other, no one willing to make the first invitation to dance.

"…ahem…well…ok then, I-"

"Ugh! Come on you guys, it's not like they have cooties. Rei and Duo, Mina and Quatre, Wufei and Lita, Ami and Trowa, Me and Heero. Done" Rose rolls her eyes. She scoots back her chair, stands, and begins to pace, that nervous anxiety becoming uncontainable. "We will try to gain her friendship and trust. You all," here she stops to face the young men, "will attempt to 'woo young fair maiden' into spilling what she might not tell us. *pacing continues* But we'll have to communicate often. We can never go after the same information in the same way twice or she'll know something's up. She doesn't have to be smart enough to make the full connection; it'll make her suspicious just the same."

Mina: "uhhh…Wha-What's her major?"

For the first time, Rose recognizes the somewhat wierded out looks she was getting from her girls. They weren't used to Rose. They were used to Serena. She just hoped it wouldn't take them too long to get accustomed to her new personality…she didn't like the way this felt…didn't like the way they were looking at her….as if they weren't quite sure if she were someone they knew…

…luckily, good ole Ami (although shy and easily embarrassed most days) seemed unfazed.

Ami: "Information Technology and Communication"

Mina and Serena blink.

Mina: "Two majors?" Ami nods.

Rose sighs. "Great. So she probably IS smart enough to figure it out if we're not careful."

Lita: "But this could be a good thing. She's an IT geek, so she'll probably store a lot of information on her computer."

Rei: "Pft. Yah, but it also means she's smart enough to protect it with whatev computer security is available."

Mina: "Come on, guys, she's a college student. No way she's that paranoid."

Trowa: "Hmph. Don't underestimate her."

The scouts turn as one, caught off guard. They had almost forgotten their male counterparts, sitting there quietly……something the gundams had probably done intentionally so as to study their new members. But now scout time was over, and the boys readily join in.

Quatre: "Her Dad still has connections with her. If he cares enough to send her money, he'll care enough to make sure she's prepared for just this sort of thing."

Duo: "And if he's in league with this Sparta group, she could be too."

Heero: "We won't know until we're in. Ami-" Ami jumps, startled to be addressed so directly by a leader figure who is 1) a boy and 2) not Serena, "I want class schedules printed out and distributed by tomorrow morning, including book lists and course descriptions. Tomorrow afternoon we'll meet again to decide who is most qualified for which classes."

Ami nods hesitantly, as if uncertain whether or not she should be taking orders from a leader not her own.

Relena: "Open house starts tomorrow evening, you will each move in the following morning for orientation as transfer students, classes will start the morning after that. Hilde has offered to create your alternate identities. She has her own duties to worry about so they may not be ready in time for the open house tomorrow morning. This means tha-"

"Trowa-" this time they all jump slightly, but at the sound of Rose's voice, "You have experience in taking on identities not your own so you'll help Hilde with ours. You too Lita. We can't afford to be ourselves for open house. I think everyone agrees that would be careless…" She purposefully catches Heero's eye as if to dare him to challenge her good sense.

He doesn't take the bait….overtly. Instead he looks to Trowa, and nods his approval….which earns him a glare from a majorly pissed off Rose. She hadn't missed the meaning between the lines, and she DID NOT NEED HIS APPROVAL. He would hear from her later…

Sensing the tension return, Relena quickly decides to convene. "Ok then…tomorrow morning you'll meet here for equipment detail and then set out." She stands, bows. "This will be my last opportunity to meet officially, as I'm scheduled for several conferences with ambassadors from the other colonies. They'll need to know what sort of threat we might be facing. I'm counting on you all. Dismissed." And with that and a nervous breath, she takes her leave.

The others stand as she does so. Duo stretches, taking his time. Trowa silently slips out close behind Relena, as does Wufei (although not before a disgusted "hmph"). Quatre, makes sure to offer a friendly and polite "Excuse me, ladies. It was very nice meeting all of you," before taking off. Heero stays seated, eyes shut, arms crossed.

It was interesting for Rose to observe, standing where she was a little apart from the others, as each of the boys seem to have their own ways, while the sailor scouts immediately had begun discussing plans with each other. ….on second thought, she wondered if perhaps that was why neither Duo nor Heero had left yet.

Lita had stood, right hand back on her hip. "So what now?"

Mina, still seated: "I say we check out those dorms first thing tonight."

Rei, now sitting/leaning on the table: "Tonight?! Mina, you do realize there's no one to let us in. I highly doubt anyone but campus patrol will be hanging around, and I don't think they'll be eager to let in some random group of teenagers."

Mina wags a finger, oh so confident: "Tsk tsk, Rei. You underestimate me! *whispers conspiratorally behind her hand* I have…people!" She grins, glancing across the table. Rei follows her gaze…..and groans, rolling her eyes.

"Hey! What's wrong with her people?" Duo was matching Mina's grin. He jumps from the seat to the table, does an overhead somersault, and lands close to Serena, facing the girls. "I'll have you know I'm one of the best lock-picks around. You girls want in *he points to himself* I'm your man!"

Mina stands, stars in her eyes. "Yes. you. are!!" She grabs hold of his arm, hero worship radiating off her like kryptonite, making Duo look distinctly uncomfortable for once. The other girls grin now, amused that Duo's playerish karma was finally catching up with him. With Mina, he'd bitten off more than he could chew.

Rei: "Alright then," she pushes off from the table haughtily, "Pick us up around 9:30. We'll go in under cover of darkness, and come home before it gets too late."

"Hey!" Serena pouts, "Giving orders is MY job remember?" Rei smiles, and the mood is one of relief. This was the Serena they were much more accustomed to. "Besides," Serena gloats, "you forgot that it would be the perfect opportunity to bug the building, so we'll need equipment. Heero?"

They all turn, having forgotten he was still there. She couldn't be sure, but she thought she saw the signs of annoyance in the stiffness of his lower jaw and the draw of his eyebrows. It makes her smile. "I suppose you'll be wanting to join us, being my 'partner' and all, so you can bring the tech ware."

It took a long moment, but he finally grunted.

Her smile widens. "I'll take that as a yes. Ladies? I'll see you tonight!!" And with that happy-go-lucky persona back in place, she waves and bounds off, leaving mixed feelings behind her…