Back again, another day another chapter, ne? Heh, look I rhymed! ^-^ Well for those of you who think I forgot about poor Celena, here ya go, booyah! ::wonders why on earth she just used that word:: Well hope you guys enjoy, remember to review and....::glances at TV:: good Gods are they playing that Weezer video again??? . That's three times in one night! ::wanders off grumbling::
~Sarah~


Chapter 7- To Think and Do

"Deep inside of a parallel universe
It's getting harder and harder
To tell what came first
Under water where thoughts can breathe Easily
Far away you were made in a sea
Just like me."~ Red Hot Chilli Peppers



Dilandau leaned against the railing of the balcony adjoined to his room. The world was spread below him, illuminated by the two moons the hanging in the sky. The Vione was positioned above a nomad's land, perhaps twenty miles east of where it had last been outside the city of Conilia.

The young general was staring at the larger of the two moons. He wondered about the supposedly cursed planet and the people who were said to live there. It angered him because it was something he would never see, never be able to understand. Dilandau hated not understanding things.

Colors swirled on the moons surface, deeps blues contrasting with vivid greens. Dilandau frowned. The green reminded him of something. Eyes wide with anger, staring at him in loathing. And soft lips struggling not to open and scream insults at him. He didn't quite understand her either...

The silver haired boy growled tearing his gaze away from the moon, and he headed back inside to the dimly lit space of his room. 'Why am I thinking about her,' he demanded wordlessly, sinking into a chair. 'I should have killed her. What the hell was I thinking?'

But he knew somehow he didn't really regret it. He smiled, a thought coming to mind. If she joined the Zaibach he would be in command over her. The thought was quite intriguing. He would show her the beating of a life time, pay back to what she did to him in the forest. And Folken wouldn't have a word in on it. His smile faltered suddenly.

'You think about her a lot, even if it is negative thought,' he heard a voice say, seeming to come from the depths of his mind. But it wasn't his voice.

"Shut up." Dilandau growled, his hand clutching the arm of the chair, causing the wood to creak.

'Why? You know I'm right,' the voice pouted, but it's tone changed, pleading, 'Please let me come out.'

Dilandau grinned wickedly, 'Still beat from your last attempt?' he questioned mentally.

'Please?' the voice asked again, 'I get so lonely...'

'Shut up, 'Dilandau said again, 'Don't think I've forgotten what happened last time. You really screwed me over Celena.'

'She was kind! She offered to help me. I only wanted a friend, please Dilandau! I-"

"I said SHUT UP!!" Dilandau screamed, jumping to his feet. The voice grew silent. He breathed in heavily, wondering momentarily why he was out of breath. "That's it," he muttered, heading for the door, "I'm fucking sick of this, Folken's going to fix it and he's going to fix it NOW!"

The young general stormed down the halls of the Vione. It was early morning, the Stratagos was usually up by now. And if he wasn't he soon would be.

"Folken!" Dilandau shouted, barging into the Stratagos's room.

Folken glanced up from where he stood, having just finished pulling his cloak around his broad shoulders. "Your up early Dilandau, having trouble with something?"

"I want you to get this whining bitch out of my head! For good!" Dilandau exclaimed.

Folken raised an eyebrow stretching out his metallic arm, examining it, "Really? Is that all?"

"Save the sarcasm Stratagos. I am REALLY not in the mood. I don't care how you do it, just get her out of me before she drives me insane!"

Folken sighed.
'To late for that,' he thought bitterly, turning to face the disgruntled general.
"I do have a method I've been testing for the past few weeks," He told Dilandau, "but for it to work you have to be in the middle of the transformation."

Dilandau gaped at him. "You mean to tell me you can't do it until the stupid bitch tries to force herself out of me again? That'll take days! She still exhausted from her last attempt!" The red eyed boy's teeth clenched in anger at the memory. "She almost ruined everything!!"

The Stratagos shrugged, "It's the only thing I can offer you right now Dilandau. Unless you'd like to try another fate alteration..."

Dilandau's face paled noticeably. Although it was what he wanted, the thought of the process scared the hell out of him.

"And I can't guarantee it will work." Folken added.

"Fine!" Dilandau growled, a scowl marring his face. "I'll try your stupid method. Just have the preparations ready when the time comes!" he commanded and stormed out of the Stratagos's room.

Folken sighed again, shaking his head, "There's just no pleasing some people."

****

Serryn felt a warmth on her face, bringing her mind back from the depths of sleep. She opened her eyes blinking slightly. Sunlight streamed over her, originating from a window in her small room she hadn't taken notice of before. It was morning. She got up and peered out the window. Late morning, judging by the sun's position in the sky.

"How long did I sleep?" she wondered absently turning to the mirror. Her reflection was a great improvement from the night before. Her face was clean and her hair once again tame, if a but ruffled from sleep. She wore a pair of pants and a simple white shirt, both which hung loosely from her petite body.

Serryn had looked hard but these were the smallest she was able to come across. Thankfully Gatti had lent her a belt, which helped to keep the pants up, but they still dragged a good half a foot. She leaned over cuffing the ends up, playfully cursing her height challenged body.

Her stomach growled slightly, reminding Serryn it was breakfast time. She smiled and headed out the door in the direction of the kitchen. Thanks to Gatti, Chesta and Dallet, she now knew that everything she required was located on the level Folken had restricted her to.

Besides the wash room and kitchen/mess hall there was also a reception area where the soldiers went when they were off duty to converse with each other, and oddly enough there was also a nursery. It had unnerved Serryn to think that the Zaibach actually took their families along with them to war. She couldn't imagine raising children in this type of environment.

Serryn reached the mess hall. It was scarcely occupied this late in the morning. A few middle-aged women sat conversing noisely with each other while attempting to feed their fidgety children, but obviously all the soldiers had left to their duties.

She grabbed some bread and fruit from the kitchen, and left. She wasn't in the mood to sit with those women, especially with the looks she was getting from them. Apparently the entire floating fortress knew of her presence.

Serryn chewed on a piece of fruit, walking back down the hallway when some noises from an open door to her left caught her attention. She wandered over to the door, curious as to what lay beyond it.

On the other side she found a large catwalk that rested above a stadium like room. Far below her she could see what looked like a gigantic sparring room. Soldiers were positioned all over the place, swinging everything from swords to fists, deep in training. Most she noted wore the black and blue uniform of a Dragonslayer.

It wasn't long before she spotted Dallet, and she laughed because he was franticly waving at her from where he stood on the ground. She waved back at him, and also at Gatti and Chesta when they took notice of her as well.

Dallet then cupped his hands over his mouth and yelled, "Watch me kick some ASS!!" He gained a few glances from other soliders, but apparently he couldn't care less. Serryn watched as he then rushed at an unsuspecting Chesta, hoping to catch him of guard. But Chesta was one to catch Dallet off guard as he immediately turned and blocked Dallet's swing.

Serryn smiled. The blond boy had skill, despite his outward appearance, he swung his sword with air of great experience. Dallet was obviously having trouble keeping his ground. Gatti then joined in, swinging his sword at Chesta and blocking his next move. Dallet grinned siding with his new comrade, but let out a surprised yelp when Gatti took a swing at him too. It was every man for himself.

Serryn laughed until her sides were sore. In an actual war situation, these boys would have probably caused a lot of damage, but it was so plainly obvious that they were all trying to impress her, she couldn't help but laugh. The three sided battle came to an abrupt end as all three boys lost their weapons and ended up wrestling each other to the floor.

Gatti turned out being the victor, and he stood triumphantly, one foot placed over Dallet's back. Dallet of course lay sprawled across Chesta's stomach, looking increasingly disgruntled. Chesta just looked winded. Gatti waved again to Serryn, flashing her the victory sign, and she grinned clapping.

Gatti paused suddenly, the humor draining from his face and he immediately lifted his foot off of Dallet's back. Dallet and Chesta both scrambled to their feet, falling in line with Gatti. They were instantly joined by the rest of the Dragonslayers.

Serryn wondered at this for a moment, but then the explanation himself strode into her line of vision, a menacing air about him. She couldn't here most of his words when he started yelling at the slayers, because they weren't directed at her, but she heard "incompetent" and "wasting your time playing around" pretty clearly.

She felt slightly guilty for getting Gatti, Chesta and Dallet in trouble. They had only been trying to impress her. Dilandau had finished his ranting and the Dragonslayers solemnly returned to their training, but it was as if he could read her mind. His head tilted back, instantly locking eyes with her. Serryn straightened nervously. The expression on his face wasn't one she could easily read, but she was pretty sure he was annoyed by her presence.

He looked away then, dismissing her and walked out the doors of the room. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. 'I shouldn't let him scare me like that,' she scolded herself, 'that's just what he wants.'

She continued watching the Slayers train, catching Gatti's eyes for a moment, and giving him an apologetic smile. He shrugged rolling his eyes and returned to sparring with another slayer Serryn didn't know by name.

'This is what it will be like if I join them,' she realized, 'having him order me around, yelling at me for anything I do wrong.' She sighed sadly. There was always the thought of her sister.
'But the question is,' she thought to herself, 'will it make a difference. If I choose to die she'll be left alone. If I choose to live, who knows if and when they'll even let me search for her. If she's even still alive...'

Serryn shook her head turning back to the door. She need to go somewhere quiet where she could think. She looked up, and let out a startled gasp. Dilandau stood there, leaning against the door frame, watching her. He smirked, amused that he'd surprised her. "Having fun up her princess?" he questioned.

She frowned, mentally yelling at herself for flinching, while also nervously wondering just how long he had been standing there. "I was just watching them train," She replied, turning her back on him so she wouldn't have to see the smugness spreading across his face, "They're pretty good."

To her annoyance, he joined her, leaning his arms against the railing. "They've been in training their entire lives," he told her, "they are the best warriors Zaibach has to offer."

"You must be proud to be the commander of such a talented group of soldiers, "Serryn said a bit sarcastically, "You're lucky."

Dilandau glared at her. "I'm their commander because my skills outrank theirs considerably. They are the best of Zaibach, and I am the best of them. 'Luck' has absolutely nothing to do with it."

Serryn chose not to reply to that statement, though she seethed hearing the arrogance in his voice. Instead she averted her eyes, frowning. She then noticed Dallet and Chesta conversing with each other, and both boys flashed worried glances in her direction. Apparently Dilandau noticed this to.

"They act as if they know you," he remarked casting a suspicious look at her.

"I met them last night," she explained trying to hide the nervousness in her voice, "Dallet, Chesta and Gatti. They...showed me around. To the kitchen and stuff." She left it at that, hoping she wasn't getting any of the boys in trouble again. Dilandau frowned, but said nothing. The two stood in silence for a moment, watching the slayers as the sparred with each other.

Dilandau was opening his mouth to speak again when he clenched the railing, gasping suddenly. Serryn turned looking at him, and her eyes widened in surprise. His face was strained as if he were in a great amount of pain. His eyes had become wide and unfocused. He began inhaling in short but quick breaths.

"Are you ok??" Serryn asked cautiously, raising a hand to try to calm him. Why, she didn't know.

"Don't touch me!" Dilandau snarled at her through clenched teeth, then without warning he shoved passed her, and hurried out the door. She could hear his footsteps echo rapidly down the hallway.

"That was strange..." Serryn said softly. But for some odd reason, it was also very familiar.