Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the characters of the Escaflowne series.
I also, do not own the plot line. But I do own Jewel, and if you wish to
use her, please let me know.
Chapter Eight: Meeting the Dream Team
Jewel trained for six days before reporting back to the Strategose. She didn't feel comfortable calling him his name, so she called him Strategose; like the others. She entered Folken's old study and found that it had been redecorated majorly.
Instead of the old wooden desk and big plushy chair that was usually behind it, there was a cold steel desk and an old wooden chair. Instead of the little study to the side, with a couch and two comfy chairs, there was a metal coffee table and an odd old wooden stand with a dark blue piece of cloth covering the thing on the stand. The bookshelves were still there, only now they didn't home the old beaten up books that were once Folken's. Instead, they held new books, books about subjects Jewel hadn't even heard of.
A sudden pain in her head made Jewel's vision fade a little. She blinked rapidly and put a hand to her temple, gently rubbing it. A second later the pain disappeared and Jewel's vision cleared. Only to see that the room was empty. She gave a disappointed sigh and walked calmly out of the room.
Jewel walked down the empty corridors of the Zaibach Headquarters, known to its inhabitants as Omega. She was glad that the Strategose hadn't been in his office, she hated talking to him alone. He just stared at her with an odd expression in his eyes that Jewel could not quiet place. When he talked to her in was in a low, dull whisper. And Jewel knew that he watched her like a c at would watch a mouse.
This bothered her. Folken had never looked or spoken to her like that, had he? No, he hadn't. He was always kind and understanding with her. Respectful too. He had never watched her like a cat, not that Jewel knew of.
Suddenly Jewel realized for the first time that she missed Folken, more then she had thought. His departure while she was unconscious had come as a shock to her, but now the mourning process had begun. And strangely enough, even though Jewel couldn't ever remember losing someone, she knew how things would go. She knew what it was like to lose someone and mourn for them.
But how could that be? She hadn't lost someone, had she? She frowned as she searched her memory. No, she hadn't. But why did she know about mourning, and knowing how it felt? If she hadn't lost someone close, then she wouldn't know how mourning went.
Jewel shook her head and put a hand to her forehead. Lately she had been having sudden spasms of pain in her head. Of course they would disappear after a few minutes, but every time they brought more confusion to Jewel. She would know things she knew she hadn't known before. Things that sometimes she was grateful for knowing, and sometimes things she didn't ever want to know.
Boots clicking against the hard stone floor made Jewel snap out of her thoughts. Without thinking, she crouched into the shadows and waited. The boots kept clicking her way, making sure that everyone around knew their presence. Jewel crouched lower, ready to pounce. Click, click, click. Suddenly the boots were in her view. They were shinny, newly polished black leather boots. Big boots, telling Jewel that they were a man's.
Jewel blinked. How did she know that? All boots were the same, weren't they? How could she tell if a man was coming based on his boots?
The clicking was getting farther now. Jewel snapped out of her thoughts and powered all her muscles. Then, without warning, she leapt easily from her spot and flew through the air, hands outstretched to catch her prey. She saw a flash of red and silver before she hit the prey, knocking him off balance. As they fell forward, Jewel quickly blocked access to the prey's sword with her leg. She felt the hand going toward the hilt of the sword, and then stopping.
They landed on the floor with a sickening thud. Jewel flipped off her prey and delivered a kick to his side. The man rolled over and Jewel pounced on him again. Sitting astride on his chest, she pinned his arms above his head. Her short dark red hair fell forward as she was learning over him, dangling just above his face.
Deep crimson eyes stared angrily back at her calm sea blue ones. He was wearing a black uniform with red armor over it. He had a muscular body, tall and lean but yet thin. His skin was pale, as if he was almost never let out into daylight. He had a fair face, with arched silver eyebrows, short silver hair with bangs that fell into his eyes, and a scar that went the length down his left cheek.
"State your name," Jewel growled. She was very aware that she had no weapon, and this man did. Keep your eyes on the jugular, a voice told her. If he makes any move, press on it hard with two fingers.
"General Dilandau Albatou of Zaibach, Captain of the Dragon Slayers." The man replied.
"Business?" Jewel growled even more menacing.
"To take you to the Training room where you will be assigned you mission."
Jewel studied the general some more. Finally she let him up. She sprang to her feet and stood up easily while the general pushed himself up. Once on his feet, Dilandau turned and walked away. Jewel followed right on his heels. The general didn't speak to her, so Jewel didn't try to start a conversation. She wasn't naïve; she knew what this man expected.
After a while Dilandau opened a door on the right and walked in and so did Jewel. Inside was just a big, plain room with assorted weapons on the wall, nothing impressing. But in the center of the room, standing in a perfect straight line, all wearing blue uniforms with black armor, were six men.
Immediately Jewel guessed that these were the Dragon Slayers that Dilandau was in charge of. As Dilandau approached them, they all saluted. The one on the left end was a short, dark haired man that had a boyish kind of look about him. His short brown hair hung around his face, and dark forest green eyes stared unblinkingly ahead.
The second man was a tall, lean one with blonde hair that was braided back into a small braid. Pale blue eyes stared ahead. The third and fourth men confused Jewel. They were exactly alike, both with wild black hair and dark brown eyes with the same fun-loving glint in their eyes. They were almost alike, until Jewel discovered that one had a small scar above his left eye; it was faded but Jewel could see it clearly.
The fifth man was the tallest of them all, but shorted then Dilandau. He had wild, untamed deep brown hair and the same kind of eyes. His skin was a darker tan then the rest, so Jewel guess he must have been a farmer. The last man was short, but still taller then the first man. He had long grayish black hair that came to his chin, and pale silver eyes. All the men were muscular, and all honed to perfection.
"Eloy, Damain, Del, Leroy, Quin, and David," Dilandau said, calling out the men's names in order, left to right, while Jewel nodded. She detected a small hint of pride in Dilandau's voice. And Dilandau seemed like the kind of man that wasn't easily impressed. These must be the best men in Gaea.
"The Dream Team," She said suddenly, surprising herself. "Weapons, assassination, combat, piloting, mechanics, explosives."
Dilandau gave a slight nod. "Best of the best. So you're assumption of, 'Dream Team', is correct. Except we are no dream."
Jewel shrugged. She knew that she was dealing with the Dragon Slayers, renowned for their excessive skills. But a question pulled at the back of her mind. If she had a mission, was it with these soldiers?
Just then Strategose entered. Jewel heard him approach the door before he even entered. She whirled around and stood in attention as he entered. He waved her off and Jewel relaxed. "You're mission, Jewel, to accompany the Dragon Slayers to Austria. There, you will help them destroy all advisors that pose a threat to us," Strategose said.
"Sir, no disrespect intended, but I work better alone," Jewel said.
"I know that, but you need experience with working along side the Dragon Slayers. Now, even though you will accompany them, you will follow General Dilandau's orders like the rest."
Jewel looked revolted. "Sir, I follow-like some kind of whipped dog- Dilandau's orders?"
"No other way to put it."
"Sir, I am no whipped dog. I will follow orders when the time comes, but until then, I wish to follow my own orders."
There was a long pause. Strategose was considering it. And then, "very well."
Jewel could feel Dilandau glaring at her. For some reason, she knew he had wanted her to be under his command. Someone who was not following his orders made him feel insecure. Strategose left the Training room and Jewel turned to Dilandau.
"I assume we leave now, since Fol-I mean Strategose didn't give us a time." Was all she said.
"Yes. Meet us in the hanger in fifteen minutes." Dilandau replied.
But by then Jewel was already out the door and heading towards her room.
*~~*
TBC….
AN: So how was it? Review please! Thanks to Mouser, Chichiriu, ElvenChild, CrimsonFire, TigerWolf and Tia, all who have reviewed and made my day!!!
Chapter Eight: Meeting the Dream Team
Jewel trained for six days before reporting back to the Strategose. She didn't feel comfortable calling him his name, so she called him Strategose; like the others. She entered Folken's old study and found that it had been redecorated majorly.
Instead of the old wooden desk and big plushy chair that was usually behind it, there was a cold steel desk and an old wooden chair. Instead of the little study to the side, with a couch and two comfy chairs, there was a metal coffee table and an odd old wooden stand with a dark blue piece of cloth covering the thing on the stand. The bookshelves were still there, only now they didn't home the old beaten up books that were once Folken's. Instead, they held new books, books about subjects Jewel hadn't even heard of.
A sudden pain in her head made Jewel's vision fade a little. She blinked rapidly and put a hand to her temple, gently rubbing it. A second later the pain disappeared and Jewel's vision cleared. Only to see that the room was empty. She gave a disappointed sigh and walked calmly out of the room.
Jewel walked down the empty corridors of the Zaibach Headquarters, known to its inhabitants as Omega. She was glad that the Strategose hadn't been in his office, she hated talking to him alone. He just stared at her with an odd expression in his eyes that Jewel could not quiet place. When he talked to her in was in a low, dull whisper. And Jewel knew that he watched her like a c at would watch a mouse.
This bothered her. Folken had never looked or spoken to her like that, had he? No, he hadn't. He was always kind and understanding with her. Respectful too. He had never watched her like a cat, not that Jewel knew of.
Suddenly Jewel realized for the first time that she missed Folken, more then she had thought. His departure while she was unconscious had come as a shock to her, but now the mourning process had begun. And strangely enough, even though Jewel couldn't ever remember losing someone, she knew how things would go. She knew what it was like to lose someone and mourn for them.
But how could that be? She hadn't lost someone, had she? She frowned as she searched her memory. No, she hadn't. But why did she know about mourning, and knowing how it felt? If she hadn't lost someone close, then she wouldn't know how mourning went.
Jewel shook her head and put a hand to her forehead. Lately she had been having sudden spasms of pain in her head. Of course they would disappear after a few minutes, but every time they brought more confusion to Jewel. She would know things she knew she hadn't known before. Things that sometimes she was grateful for knowing, and sometimes things she didn't ever want to know.
Boots clicking against the hard stone floor made Jewel snap out of her thoughts. Without thinking, she crouched into the shadows and waited. The boots kept clicking her way, making sure that everyone around knew their presence. Jewel crouched lower, ready to pounce. Click, click, click. Suddenly the boots were in her view. They were shinny, newly polished black leather boots. Big boots, telling Jewel that they were a man's.
Jewel blinked. How did she know that? All boots were the same, weren't they? How could she tell if a man was coming based on his boots?
The clicking was getting farther now. Jewel snapped out of her thoughts and powered all her muscles. Then, without warning, she leapt easily from her spot and flew through the air, hands outstretched to catch her prey. She saw a flash of red and silver before she hit the prey, knocking him off balance. As they fell forward, Jewel quickly blocked access to the prey's sword with her leg. She felt the hand going toward the hilt of the sword, and then stopping.
They landed on the floor with a sickening thud. Jewel flipped off her prey and delivered a kick to his side. The man rolled over and Jewel pounced on him again. Sitting astride on his chest, she pinned his arms above his head. Her short dark red hair fell forward as she was learning over him, dangling just above his face.
Deep crimson eyes stared angrily back at her calm sea blue ones. He was wearing a black uniform with red armor over it. He had a muscular body, tall and lean but yet thin. His skin was pale, as if he was almost never let out into daylight. He had a fair face, with arched silver eyebrows, short silver hair with bangs that fell into his eyes, and a scar that went the length down his left cheek.
"State your name," Jewel growled. She was very aware that she had no weapon, and this man did. Keep your eyes on the jugular, a voice told her. If he makes any move, press on it hard with two fingers.
"General Dilandau Albatou of Zaibach, Captain of the Dragon Slayers." The man replied.
"Business?" Jewel growled even more menacing.
"To take you to the Training room where you will be assigned you mission."
Jewel studied the general some more. Finally she let him up. She sprang to her feet and stood up easily while the general pushed himself up. Once on his feet, Dilandau turned and walked away. Jewel followed right on his heels. The general didn't speak to her, so Jewel didn't try to start a conversation. She wasn't naïve; she knew what this man expected.
After a while Dilandau opened a door on the right and walked in and so did Jewel. Inside was just a big, plain room with assorted weapons on the wall, nothing impressing. But in the center of the room, standing in a perfect straight line, all wearing blue uniforms with black armor, were six men.
Immediately Jewel guessed that these were the Dragon Slayers that Dilandau was in charge of. As Dilandau approached them, they all saluted. The one on the left end was a short, dark haired man that had a boyish kind of look about him. His short brown hair hung around his face, and dark forest green eyes stared unblinkingly ahead.
The second man was a tall, lean one with blonde hair that was braided back into a small braid. Pale blue eyes stared ahead. The third and fourth men confused Jewel. They were exactly alike, both with wild black hair and dark brown eyes with the same fun-loving glint in their eyes. They were almost alike, until Jewel discovered that one had a small scar above his left eye; it was faded but Jewel could see it clearly.
The fifth man was the tallest of them all, but shorted then Dilandau. He had wild, untamed deep brown hair and the same kind of eyes. His skin was a darker tan then the rest, so Jewel guess he must have been a farmer. The last man was short, but still taller then the first man. He had long grayish black hair that came to his chin, and pale silver eyes. All the men were muscular, and all honed to perfection.
"Eloy, Damain, Del, Leroy, Quin, and David," Dilandau said, calling out the men's names in order, left to right, while Jewel nodded. She detected a small hint of pride in Dilandau's voice. And Dilandau seemed like the kind of man that wasn't easily impressed. These must be the best men in Gaea.
"The Dream Team," She said suddenly, surprising herself. "Weapons, assassination, combat, piloting, mechanics, explosives."
Dilandau gave a slight nod. "Best of the best. So you're assumption of, 'Dream Team', is correct. Except we are no dream."
Jewel shrugged. She knew that she was dealing with the Dragon Slayers, renowned for their excessive skills. But a question pulled at the back of her mind. If she had a mission, was it with these soldiers?
Just then Strategose entered. Jewel heard him approach the door before he even entered. She whirled around and stood in attention as he entered. He waved her off and Jewel relaxed. "You're mission, Jewel, to accompany the Dragon Slayers to Austria. There, you will help them destroy all advisors that pose a threat to us," Strategose said.
"Sir, no disrespect intended, but I work better alone," Jewel said.
"I know that, but you need experience with working along side the Dragon Slayers. Now, even though you will accompany them, you will follow General Dilandau's orders like the rest."
Jewel looked revolted. "Sir, I follow-like some kind of whipped dog- Dilandau's orders?"
"No other way to put it."
"Sir, I am no whipped dog. I will follow orders when the time comes, but until then, I wish to follow my own orders."
There was a long pause. Strategose was considering it. And then, "very well."
Jewel could feel Dilandau glaring at her. For some reason, she knew he had wanted her to be under his command. Someone who was not following his orders made him feel insecure. Strategose left the Training room and Jewel turned to Dilandau.
"I assume we leave now, since Fol-I mean Strategose didn't give us a time." Was all she said.
"Yes. Meet us in the hanger in fifteen minutes." Dilandau replied.
But by then Jewel was already out the door and heading towards her room.
*~~*
TBC….
AN: So how was it? Review please! Thanks to Mouser, Chichiriu, ElvenChild, CrimsonFire, TigerWolf and Tia, all who have reviewed and made my day!!!