When he got there he looked at the massive red spaceship in awe. He had
never been this close to it and from what he heard, the Ragnarok was the
most perfect vehicle ever made.
Jayson made his way towards it running a hand over the smooth metal panels on its side half expecting the dragon like form to respond by flinching.
'Hey are you ok?' a voice said behind him.
Jayson spun around, the spell broken and found himself gazing into Rinoa Heartilly's brown eyes.
'Um yeah I guess the Ragnarok possessed me.' He mumbled.
Rinoa grinned 'Yeah she seems to have that effect.' She told him. 'So I take it you're Jayson?' she asked opening the door into Ragnarok.
'Um yeah that's me.' Jayson replied inwardly cursing himself for being so useless.
'I heard you got the highest marks in both exams this year.' Rinoa told him looking back over her shoulder as she entered the Ragnarok.
'I wouldn't know I didn't really compare my marks with anyone.' Jayson replied as he followed her in.
'Oh well you did good for saying you had Seifer as Squad Captain.' Rinoa answered leading him further into the Ragnarok.
'Well he's okay when he doesn't see you as a rival.' Jayson retorted watching her shoulders flinch at the remark.
Rinoa was silent after that until she led him to the Passenger room.
'Hey Quisty!' she called out as the door opened and Quistis rose from her chair, raising a stern eyebrow.
'Whoops sorry Quistis.' Rinoa said giggling.
Jayson tried to stop his eyes from rolling in disdain and hoped Meia was around to get Quistis' gaze off him. He could feel her trying to find a way into his thoughts but there was always a steel door between them and the world outside, though he found Quistis' stare disconcerting and felt himself shuffling uncomfortably.
He was almost glad that Meia chose that moment to cannon into the back of him sending him stumbling forward and getting Quistis' gaze off him. He could hear Rinoa laughing and found that he couldn't stand her although this was the first time he'd got to meet her. He spun round in his stumble and caught Meia as she fell.
'Good catch.' He heard Quistis mumble behind him.
Jayson had his arms tightly round Meia's waist and could feel the heat of the blush rushing to his cheeks as her hair tickled his chin and he could feel her breath on his chest.
He steadied her and let go hoping his blush wasn't that visible. Meia looked up at him and said 'Thanks' hoping her dismay at being let go wasn't evident.
'That's okay.' Jayson replied smiling.
Meia peered over his shoulder. 'So where's the Commander? I thought I was late!' she asked.
'Squall will be along soon he's sorting out the storage.' Rinoa replied sitting down next to Quistis.
'Probably trying to get all her luggage in.' Orion whispered causing Jayson to try and hold back the laughter building up inside.
'You ok?' Meia asked looking at his expression.
'Yeah, just something Orion said' Jayson replied.
'Oh so you two talk a lot?' Meia asked fascinated.
'Well like I said he never shuts up.' Jayson told her grinning.
'Must be fun having someone you can talk to all the time. Whenever I try to talk to a GF it doesn't answer.' Meia replied.
'Not always, they could always drive you insane.' Jayson replied jokingly. 'I guess they don't answer you because they don't get to know you. They get shuffled so much around cadets they don't feel it's worth getting attached.' He told her. 'Oh yeah on a similar point what's your compatibility with Siren?'
'Why?' Meia asked confused by the sudden question.
'Just so I know how much cover you'll need in battle if you summon her.' Jayson replied.
'Oh I see.' Meia answered blushing slightly. 'Um 890 I think.'
'That's good, she might just talk to you then.' Jayson said grinning.
At that moment Squall walked in and the two of them stood and saluted.
'At ease.' Squall replied.
'We'll be setting off in a moment.' He told them and made his way to his seat next to Rinoa.
'You know you don't have to sit over there, we don't bite you know.' Rinoa said jokingly as they sat in the chairs on the other side of the room.
'It's okay we're comfy here.' Meia replied.
'There's no need to segregate yourselves from us. You're SeeDs too you know.' Quistis told them.
At that moment Ragnarok shook as it took off ending the discussion. Meia was glad since she felt uneasy in the presence of the older SeeDs, besides she wanted to carry on enjoying Jayson's company.
She noticed the corners of his mouth were twitching. 'What's funny?' she asked.
'Just Orion's conversation with Siren.' He told her.
'Oh? I can't hear anything.' She replied realising how lame that sounded after she said it.
'Don't worry it's all on Orion's side.' He told her.
Meia yawned softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
'Tired? You should sleep. We won't get there for a couple of hours.' Jayson told her.
'Hmm maybe...' she replied blinking slowly.
Jayson reached down by her chair and pressed a button.
'Hey!' Meia cried out as the back of her chair fell backwards forcing her to lie back, the other SeeDs looking over at her call.
'I thought you'd want to sleep.' Jayson told her smiling. 'If not I'll pull your chair back up.'
'Um no I'm fine here but you could have warned me!' Meia told him as the other SeeDs stopped paying attention although Rinoa giggled at them.
'Oh well, you'd probably would've denied it if I'd just told you about the chair.' Jayson retorted and pushed his own button causing his chair to fall back so his face was only inches form hers.
'Well I'm going to sleep, I can't take two hours of Orion's babbling.' He told her laughing dryly.
'Ok.' Meia murmured her eyes closing as she succumbed to tiredness and the comfy ness of the chair. Jayson surreptitiously peeked at her and noted how beautiful she looked as she slept and ignored Orion's comments as he too drifted to sleep.
He was awoken by a soft, gloved hand on his shoulder and found himself looking up into Squall's blurry features.
'We're here.' He told him.
Jayson nodded, sitting up and stretching before rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Meia was already up and pulling her chair back up, flashing him a smile.
They then stepped out of Ragnarok and into the byways of the hi-tech city of Esthar. Sparkling glass buildings shimmered above them and transporters zoomed above them in their see-through tubes.
Meia looked around wildly, dazzled and transfixed by the beauty and novelty of the city. Jayson was less interested, looking more at the people in their long robes and the guards in their insectile armour approaching them.
Squall saluted them and allowed them to escort the group to the Presidential Palace in the centre of the city. They were led into an office with a man looking similar to Squall except he had long dark hair, greying in places and wore a pale blue shirt.
Beside him stood a tall, lithe, coloured man dressed in a typical Estharian robe while a big bulky white man with a large scar running down his face stood behind him silently but glaring intently.
Squall saluted smartly as the others filed up behind him. 'President Loire.' He said curtly.
Laguna Loire sighed softly 'There's no need to be so formal Squall.' He told him.
'As you say Sir.' Squall replied.
Laguna sighed again. 'Fine. Well won't you all like to go to your rooms? We can discuss this mission over lunch once you've settled.' He told them getting up from his chair smiling. 'If you'd follow me.' He told them and led them out of the office into a hall of suites.
First Quistis was given a room, then Meia, Squall and Rinoa were given a room to share and lastly Jayson got his room next to theirs.
'So you're the SeeD who caused quite a stir at the exam recently?' Laguna inquired in a friendly manner.
'No sir I just did what I had to do to fulfil the objective.' Jayson replied levelly.
'Hmm I see you went to the Squall school of communication.' Laguna said jokingly.
'No sir I'm completely self taught.' Jayson replied grinning and entered the room which was a lot more plush and colourful than he was used to.
'What's the matter, not your style?' Laguna asked looking at his shocked expression.
Jayson held back a sarcastic remark concerning red as a bad choice of wall colour and replied 'Just not what I'm used to sir.' And gave a weak smile.
Laguna gave him an odd look and turned to leave.
'A guard will come and get you when the meeting is due.' He informed him and left the room shutting the door behind him.
'So that was Laguna Loire.' Jayson thought to himself. 'I guess Selphie's articles were right about him though there seems to be some tension between him and Squall.' Jayson sighed and gazed out the window at the busy streets below as he waited to be summoned.
Jayson made his way towards it running a hand over the smooth metal panels on its side half expecting the dragon like form to respond by flinching.
'Hey are you ok?' a voice said behind him.
Jayson spun around, the spell broken and found himself gazing into Rinoa Heartilly's brown eyes.
'Um yeah I guess the Ragnarok possessed me.' He mumbled.
Rinoa grinned 'Yeah she seems to have that effect.' She told him. 'So I take it you're Jayson?' she asked opening the door into Ragnarok.
'Um yeah that's me.' Jayson replied inwardly cursing himself for being so useless.
'I heard you got the highest marks in both exams this year.' Rinoa told him looking back over her shoulder as she entered the Ragnarok.
'I wouldn't know I didn't really compare my marks with anyone.' Jayson replied as he followed her in.
'Oh well you did good for saying you had Seifer as Squad Captain.' Rinoa answered leading him further into the Ragnarok.
'Well he's okay when he doesn't see you as a rival.' Jayson retorted watching her shoulders flinch at the remark.
Rinoa was silent after that until she led him to the Passenger room.
'Hey Quisty!' she called out as the door opened and Quistis rose from her chair, raising a stern eyebrow.
'Whoops sorry Quistis.' Rinoa said giggling.
Jayson tried to stop his eyes from rolling in disdain and hoped Meia was around to get Quistis' gaze off him. He could feel her trying to find a way into his thoughts but there was always a steel door between them and the world outside, though he found Quistis' stare disconcerting and felt himself shuffling uncomfortably.
He was almost glad that Meia chose that moment to cannon into the back of him sending him stumbling forward and getting Quistis' gaze off him. He could hear Rinoa laughing and found that he couldn't stand her although this was the first time he'd got to meet her. He spun round in his stumble and caught Meia as she fell.
'Good catch.' He heard Quistis mumble behind him.
Jayson had his arms tightly round Meia's waist and could feel the heat of the blush rushing to his cheeks as her hair tickled his chin and he could feel her breath on his chest.
He steadied her and let go hoping his blush wasn't that visible. Meia looked up at him and said 'Thanks' hoping her dismay at being let go wasn't evident.
'That's okay.' Jayson replied smiling.
Meia peered over his shoulder. 'So where's the Commander? I thought I was late!' she asked.
'Squall will be along soon he's sorting out the storage.' Rinoa replied sitting down next to Quistis.
'Probably trying to get all her luggage in.' Orion whispered causing Jayson to try and hold back the laughter building up inside.
'You ok?' Meia asked looking at his expression.
'Yeah, just something Orion said' Jayson replied.
'Oh so you two talk a lot?' Meia asked fascinated.
'Well like I said he never shuts up.' Jayson told her grinning.
'Must be fun having someone you can talk to all the time. Whenever I try to talk to a GF it doesn't answer.' Meia replied.
'Not always, they could always drive you insane.' Jayson replied jokingly. 'I guess they don't answer you because they don't get to know you. They get shuffled so much around cadets they don't feel it's worth getting attached.' He told her. 'Oh yeah on a similar point what's your compatibility with Siren?'
'Why?' Meia asked confused by the sudden question.
'Just so I know how much cover you'll need in battle if you summon her.' Jayson replied.
'Oh I see.' Meia answered blushing slightly. 'Um 890 I think.'
'That's good, she might just talk to you then.' Jayson said grinning.
At that moment Squall walked in and the two of them stood and saluted.
'At ease.' Squall replied.
'We'll be setting off in a moment.' He told them and made his way to his seat next to Rinoa.
'You know you don't have to sit over there, we don't bite you know.' Rinoa said jokingly as they sat in the chairs on the other side of the room.
'It's okay we're comfy here.' Meia replied.
'There's no need to segregate yourselves from us. You're SeeDs too you know.' Quistis told them.
At that moment Ragnarok shook as it took off ending the discussion. Meia was glad since she felt uneasy in the presence of the older SeeDs, besides she wanted to carry on enjoying Jayson's company.
She noticed the corners of his mouth were twitching. 'What's funny?' she asked.
'Just Orion's conversation with Siren.' He told her.
'Oh? I can't hear anything.' She replied realising how lame that sounded after she said it.
'Don't worry it's all on Orion's side.' He told her.
Meia yawned softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
'Tired? You should sleep. We won't get there for a couple of hours.' Jayson told her.
'Hmm maybe...' she replied blinking slowly.
Jayson reached down by her chair and pressed a button.
'Hey!' Meia cried out as the back of her chair fell backwards forcing her to lie back, the other SeeDs looking over at her call.
'I thought you'd want to sleep.' Jayson told her smiling. 'If not I'll pull your chair back up.'
'Um no I'm fine here but you could have warned me!' Meia told him as the other SeeDs stopped paying attention although Rinoa giggled at them.
'Oh well, you'd probably would've denied it if I'd just told you about the chair.' Jayson retorted and pushed his own button causing his chair to fall back so his face was only inches form hers.
'Well I'm going to sleep, I can't take two hours of Orion's babbling.' He told her laughing dryly.
'Ok.' Meia murmured her eyes closing as she succumbed to tiredness and the comfy ness of the chair. Jayson surreptitiously peeked at her and noted how beautiful she looked as she slept and ignored Orion's comments as he too drifted to sleep.
He was awoken by a soft, gloved hand on his shoulder and found himself looking up into Squall's blurry features.
'We're here.' He told him.
Jayson nodded, sitting up and stretching before rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Meia was already up and pulling her chair back up, flashing him a smile.
They then stepped out of Ragnarok and into the byways of the hi-tech city of Esthar. Sparkling glass buildings shimmered above them and transporters zoomed above them in their see-through tubes.
Meia looked around wildly, dazzled and transfixed by the beauty and novelty of the city. Jayson was less interested, looking more at the people in their long robes and the guards in their insectile armour approaching them.
Squall saluted them and allowed them to escort the group to the Presidential Palace in the centre of the city. They were led into an office with a man looking similar to Squall except he had long dark hair, greying in places and wore a pale blue shirt.
Beside him stood a tall, lithe, coloured man dressed in a typical Estharian robe while a big bulky white man with a large scar running down his face stood behind him silently but glaring intently.
Squall saluted smartly as the others filed up behind him. 'President Loire.' He said curtly.
Laguna Loire sighed softly 'There's no need to be so formal Squall.' He told him.
'As you say Sir.' Squall replied.
Laguna sighed again. 'Fine. Well won't you all like to go to your rooms? We can discuss this mission over lunch once you've settled.' He told them getting up from his chair smiling. 'If you'd follow me.' He told them and led them out of the office into a hall of suites.
First Quistis was given a room, then Meia, Squall and Rinoa were given a room to share and lastly Jayson got his room next to theirs.
'So you're the SeeD who caused quite a stir at the exam recently?' Laguna inquired in a friendly manner.
'No sir I just did what I had to do to fulfil the objective.' Jayson replied levelly.
'Hmm I see you went to the Squall school of communication.' Laguna said jokingly.
'No sir I'm completely self taught.' Jayson replied grinning and entered the room which was a lot more plush and colourful than he was used to.
'What's the matter, not your style?' Laguna asked looking at his shocked expression.
Jayson held back a sarcastic remark concerning red as a bad choice of wall colour and replied 'Just not what I'm used to sir.' And gave a weak smile.
Laguna gave him an odd look and turned to leave.
'A guard will come and get you when the meeting is due.' He informed him and left the room shutting the door behind him.
'So that was Laguna Loire.' Jayson thought to himself. 'I guess Selphie's articles were right about him though there seems to be some tension between him and Squall.' Jayson sighed and gazed out the window at the busy streets below as he waited to be summoned.