Seyruun High Jinx –NEXT!

Chapter 14

Lina Gets Her 'Folks'

"They got a 'whine' contest? I know who'd be good at that!" --Val

Val's news Monday night hadn't been a surprise. His interview with the principal had revealed little substance of interest, and Zelgadiss hadn't expected Grauscherra to be a member of the Cephied clan. Any part of it. Even the far north. Xelloss had scanned the White Shrine databases while 'on the job', and found no Grauscherra leads. No, the principal was not a Shrine member of any standing. Zel also didn't think that he was a Draconian cult member, but wanted to check that lead as well.

"Hello, can I speak to Van? Thanks." Zel looked over at Val who was waiting expectantly and picking his teeth with a silver toothpick. "Hi, Zel here. Yeah, I'm not at school much anymore so I don't see anyone. So… I was wondering... I had this interview with the new principal, Grauscherra. I'm not sure why, but I have senior status, I guess, and he's talking to seniors first. Anyway...I was wondering if you knew of him. I don't know what I'm asking about...anything really, especially if you know if he's a member of the Draconian cult. No chance of that? Really? Absolutely? Fine. I didn't think so either, but Xelloss got the oddest vibes from him. You get funny vibes about Xelloss, do you? Join the club. Hey, I know! I see him everyday. Val and I live with him. He's...really all right, just a bit distracted by females. Uh, huh... If you say so, but I might agree if Hitomi were...ah...interested in me...which, of course, she's not. Yeah, well, it doesn't bother me so much. I don't see that dating is bringing him or anyone else anything but grief. Sorry, but I'm pessimistic that way. On the other hand, I'm taking Amelia out on her birthday, assuming our recording schedule works out. CDs in Atlas City. Yeah, over the next two months. Hey, thanks...yeah...later, bye."

"That don't leave many choices," Val remarked as Zelgadiss shut off his cell phone. "Shriner--out, one of the cults—out. Which leaves… syndicate."

"Maybe he's none of the above. The handkerchief might have been a gift. Even you said he was actually a pleasant guy to talk to." Zelgadiss argued. He wasn't going to be accused of paranoia this time.

"Pleasant compared to the previous principal... Big difference there."

"He seems to be popular..." Zel countered.

"With the girls, dude. He's a looker with... Damn! Why hadn't I noticed that before?"

"What, Val?" Zel asked. Val was staring at him with an odd expression.

"It's the strangest... Your eyes... he's got eyes like yours. Eyelashes! That's what makes him look different, but if yours grew in... And your hair was dark like his..."

"You're saying I look like this guy?" Zel couldn't decide whether to laugh or not.

"Similarities."

"Lina, Gourry, and Xelloss didn't mention it so it must be pretty superficial." Zel sighed and stood up. "I have homework to finish."

Val nodded, "Yeah. I guess I could do some too. We ain't gonna solve this mystery tonight."

Wednesday Practice…

Flying Fig, or Black Lavender, or whatever name Bobby's folk band was calling itself that day, had been a refreshing surprise for the Slayers. Just regular (well, maybe...) kids their ages that liked to play music; that's all. They melded well with the rock band, satisfying both Lina's medieval sound requirements and mellow personality prerequisite.

Actually, they were all pretty surprised at how mellow and good-natured the kids were. No tension, no angst. Sure, they teased and poked fun at each other, but there was never anything serious, and they were always laughing or at least smiling. Except for when they played music. Then, they fell into a deep focus, as if so immersed in the music itself that they had to devote all of their energy to it.

Although Bobby seemed to be the band leader, once he was seated behind his four-foot-tall folk harp and had his hands on those strings, he would not surface until the song was ended, or stopped abruptly (such as when Lina wanted them to stop so she could rearrange her background singers or point out something, an interesting something, that the folkies did, to her own band), which always seemed to shock him back to reality with a dazed expression on his plain, open face, his round glasses making him look a bit like a cartoon character.

His companions included his little brother, Luke, who had dyed-black hair and wore gothic eye make-up but played the violin and viola with passion, power, and skill; Pearl, the guitarist, who had long, long hair and wore intricately beaded hand-made jewelry and was refreshingly calm and pleasant (she cheerfully admired Zel's beautiful black fender; her own axe was an employable but cheap Korean-mass-produced); Sarah, the other violin, who had a lighter touch and was more classically trained, was the shortest in the group, and also the main comedian (she must have dispensed with an entire movie's worth of strategically placed Monty Python lines by the end of the practice); and Lee, who was tall and willowy, peering out through his long, straight bangs in a mildly amused way...

Xelloss found himself off to the side with Lee, both percussionists having been told in no uncertain terms to 'stop making that racket!' by Lina and Bobby in turn.

"So much for our contribution," Xelloss said with a smile.

Lee smiled, barely, "Well, we were just banging on your stuff so I could see what each drum sounded like."

Xelloss shrugged. "Maybe, but just wait until they want us, then they'll expect us to jump right in and know what to do, at least...that's how it works with us."

Lee's turn to shrug. "Bobby lets me try different things but since no one else wants my part, I don't get much flack." He met Xelloss' eyes for a split second. "I never see you around at school any more."

"I'm only there for lunch. I take math and chemistry with Zelgadiss at the university in the morning, and then Lina and I are developing a musical in the afternoon. That sends me out and about town meeting with experts. Like a professional choreographer. I've been taking singing and elocution lessons to improve my performing ability as well." Xelloss spoke quietly so he could not be overheard. "But it's a secret, for now."

Lee nodded. "Sounds like you're serious about performing then."

Xelloss smiled and opened his eyes. He glanced meaningfully in Lina's direction before saying, "I just don't want to disappoint our leader."

"Ah...Lina. I never thought I'd be sitting in a room with her."

Before Xelloss could ask the tall, ash-blonde Lee what he meant by that, Lee changed gears. "I know kids who have a crush on her."

"She's not dating anyone," Xelloss replied. "Not yet."

"Me neither," Lee shared. "No one in our band is..."

"Ah, well...Some of us do some, like me, but..." Xelloss noticed that Lina was looking around in their direction. "Nothing permanent in our band. Okay, Lina, we are listening! Guess we'd better find a drum to pound on."

Zelgadiss and Pearl worked out their parts. Zel, being the more accomplished musician, would continue with lead guitar picking, while Pearl would play mostly cords. Together they traded off rhythm. Pearl was very sweet and differential toward the unusual looking Zelgadiss. She politely said nothing about his appearance, but sneaked looks when he turned to Gourry or Val. Once he showed her a new cord and his fingers touched hers. He pulled back, and they both blushed. "Sorry..." he mumbled.

"Oh, it's okay," she said in a rush. "I-I see how to do that now. Thanks. My guitar teacher hasn't got to minor sevenths much. Who's your teacher?"

"I'm self-taught. In fourth grade, Lina gave me a beat-up Beatles Fake book so I started messing around with an old guitar. Of course, my hands were too small...most of the interesting cords were quite a stretch. Later, I had to exercise my hands to keep the scar tissue from shrinking up and I had lots of free time...so I played everyday." Zelgadiss looked up at Pearl and smiled a little. He knew she was curious about his skin condition. "I was in an accident. My father's chemistry lab blew up and I survived, barely."

Pearl nodded, relieved that she hadn't had to ask him about such personal things. "How horrible."

"Yes. But now I have extraordinary hearing and this singularly weird hair to make up for the freakish appearance," he smirked and shook his head. He couldn't believe how easy it had been to tell a stranger about all that. A year ago he could hardly talk to his band about his accident or the resulting 'deformities', and now, here he was joking about it!

"But the ears...You have pointed ears. I heard...they say you are part elf?" Pearl ventured since Zelgadiss seemed a bit comfortable talking about his afflictions.

"That's right!" laughed Xelloss from above where he stood on his way back to the drum arena. Lina stuffed his bag into his arms with a demand. He smiled subserviently her way, and then continued what he was saying to Pearl. "Elf. On his father's side. We share genes on his mother's side. I..." He smirked back at Zel, "...am a pure-blood human."

All right, some things he was a bit sensitive about! Zel opened his mouth to object, but Gourry stepped in first.

"You share jeans 'cause you're about the same size," Gourry said.

Both Pearl and Zel gaped at the joke, if it had been one.

Xelloss had pulled out of his bag an organized collection of CDs and video tapes. Gourry nabbed one of the CD/video tape combos Xelloss was handing over to Luke. Xelloss frowned, but then simply shook his head. Xelloss was dutifully distributing copies of their only demo CD and their video to the other band, while Lina described the contents. "Old stuff but you can practice to these at home. We'll need twelve songs for the musical, I figure, which is a lot for you guys to learn in a few weeks, but you are fast learners, I can tell."

Luke set down his violin and took the offered materials from Gourry, "I don't think those were the kind of jeans he was referring to. He was talking about being related, right?" Luke stood a few inches shorter than Xelloss, and his furtive brown eyes never actually met the hooded purple ones.

"Correct!" Xelloss smiled.

He was eagerly preparing for an in-depth discussion of his and Zel's muddled history, when Amelia broke in effectively stopping that sensitive conversation. "You are in my math class," "Are you a sophomore too?"

"No," Luke said shortly. "I'm a freshman. You are taking Japanese, aren't you?"

"I am...most of us are taking it. Are you in our class?"

"No, I'm in the third year class. We grade your papers sometimes, and I recognized your name. The teacher's awful, but she's the only one so it doesn't matter. I've had her the last two years, bussing to the high school from the middle school." He tried to make it sound off-hand, but Luke seemed a mite smug about his achievements. However, he had every right to; he was a great violinist as well.

Amelia decided that he was probably a lot nicer than he seemed. He was just covering for his insecurity around all these older kids with a little bravado.

"Well, I hope you take the time to mark the papers correctly and put the right answer. Don't you just hate to have something marked as 'wrong' but the 'right' answer isn't given?" Amelia asked.

"Yeah, especially when he teacher won't correct the mistake," Luke smiled, finally. Amelia had broken through his reserve at last.

Amelia handed out copies of the band calendar which included recording dates and practice times both bands would share, and tiny blue envelopes imprinted with the words 'From the Mayor of Seyruun's Desk…' The calendar was looking full already for the next two months. There wasn't much time and there was plenty to do before they would be on the road and recording their first CD!

Best of all, Bobby told them, his married cousins were 'out of town' for a few months, providing both bands an entire house in Atlas City in which to crash; at least, they hoped they could all get parental approval.

To forward that effort, Amelia explained about the little envelopes. She and her father were inviting everyone from both bands and their parents and guardians to a Sunday brunch at the mayor's mansion. Hopefully, once everyone knew everyone, permission to stay overnight a couple times unsupervised would be a given. Sylphiel told them that in any case, her father would chaperone, if necessary, since he had business at the newly-built shrine (the Slayers blew up the old one in the first High Jinx story).

"We'll play our parents some music, right? That way they'll see how serious we are about it all!" Amelia cried out, and then added, "We can make it exciting with lights and...atmosphere... Oh! Zelgadiss! I got you a new fog machine! We can try it out!"

"Fog machine?" Bobby asked. "What do you do with a fog machine?"

The other kids snickered as Zelgadiss blushed and tried to hide his face in his hands. "Nothing!" he insisted.

She hadn't intended to embarrass Zelgadiss, so to steal attention back away from Zel, Amelia cried out, "It's next week. Not this Sunday. We have a late night Saturday gig, right Miss Lina?"

"Yeah, and an important one. Joey's ready, you say?" she asked Xelloss.

"Very," Xelloss said with emphasis. "He begged me last week, but I wanted him to practice with the band and his schedule wasn't working out…that, and I thought he had some rough edges…"

"Great," Lina cut him off. "See that he gets here for the Friday practice this week then. He'll play with us at our Saturday gig. Guys, that's a TWO set gig-- seven AND eleven. Late, I know. I'm putting Joey on early and on the second show only if he's up fer it, 'kay Gourry?"

Gourry nodded, thankful that Lina had listened to his concerns for his little brother's well-being. He also noticed with some satisfaction that Xelloss appeared a bit chagrined by Lina's indifference toward him (Xelloss) of late. From Gourry's point of view, that was a good thing. Maybe the cure for Xelloss-liking came from being around him too much. It sure was for him.

Lina was still on a rant. "Then, we'll add the Sunday party to our calendars—not this Sunday, but the next…Everybody got that? Good, 'cause I got us another gig fer that Saturday. ALL of us, you Raven Figs, or whatever, too!"

Bobby gasped and coughed, "Us too! That's not much time for us to prepare…"

"Yeah, but you can do your own stuff, right? Good. Some of us will go up Friday for the festivities and checkout the sound system and… What, Val?" Lina turned to his hooting noise.

"Fes-tiiiiii-ities?"

Lina was full of information, plans, and strange news. "I got this call last night...from my Aunt Lucille."

"You have an aunt!" Amelia cried out. "I thought your mother and sister were your only living relatives! Remember doing those cultural fair projects last year and the problems you had?"

"Ah, well...she's not a blood relative actually. She's my father's brother's wife. He died a few years back and we lost touch." Lina paused to take a drink of her milk before continuing. "Anywho...she called out of the blue. Seems this warm fall has given their wine grapes a longer season than usual. She lives in Zephillia, which is south of here and warmer still. That's where I was born...where my mother met my dad...at the grape harvest festival. Which brings me to my point."

Lina bit into a cookie Pearl had brought to share. "I guess they need some help with the late harvest and she thought of me and my sister, but when we got ta talkin' and all… (munch, munch) she wants the whole band to come... plus the folkies here (making a wide sweeping gesture to include Bobby's band)... and we'll do some work and entertain and..."

She looked over the sea of expressionless faces. "Hey, there's great food and lots of it! They do fun stuff like...oh, I don't know, grape tossing and we can stomp on 'em in vats… The GRAPES, idiot! Stomp on grapes to make…juice!" She shouted the last two phrases pointedly at Gourry, who was about to ask something stupid-- she just knew. "And... there's barrel-rolling races and..."

"They got a 'whine' contest? I know who'd be good at that!" Val chuckled at Xelloss who was about to start complaining about the 'rustics' and unenlightened, uncultured country kids they would be entertaining with their music.

Xelloss' mouth snapped shut instantly and he shifted back into the shadows. Lina, now Val? He felt as if they were all pushing him away. A cold shiver ran over him. He'd make things right…with that dance number with Lina. They would knock them all off their feet.

Zelgadiss noted in a businesslike manner, "We'll need electricity for the amps and microphones."

"Where do you think this place is?" Lina asked defensively. "They ain't a bunch of hicks out there! It's rural, but they do have electricity!"

Zel sighed a tense sigh. "I mean, at a country-type fair that's held outside the power sufficient to handle all these amps is not often available."

Val stepped in for support. "He's talkin' Ven-ue. We've been playin' in clubs that host a lot of live bands, and have their own permanent gear: A PA system, speakers and a house mixer permanently installed. If we go out-a-doors we may need ta pur-chase all that."

"That's why you and Val need to be there Friday," Lina added breezily. "I got overnight accommodations taken care of, just bring sleeping bags. Filia? You free from the settlement?"

"I'll see what I can do. We have our own late harvests coming in, but…"

"But this one pays!" Lina shouted with glee.

But both Zel and Val were grumbling about the cost of equipment, if the place was as backwards as they feared.

Their combined discussion went something like this:

Val said, "We'll need ta buy a small multi-channel mixer for the background vocals. With the mixer, we'll mix the background and lead vocals together and amplify the signal with the lead singer's amp. So, just add the mixer to our shoppin' list."

Zel then would point out, "Yes, but then… we are not looking at a fairly intimate venue. We're booked to play something larger like the great outdoors, so we'll need to mic everything or run signals directly from the instruments. "

"Okay…we can mic the lead guitarist's amp, or better yet, run your guitar's signal through an amp emulator and then into the mixer…"

"Right," Zel agreed as Gourry ambled over to look at their drawings. "And then we can run the bass through a direct input box or an amp emulator, then run the keyboard's signal straight into the mixer."

Val nodded. "Sure, then we can make Xelly-boy's drum kit run straight into the mixer too. Which leaves mics for the lead and background vocalists. So with our four instruments and four or more vocalists, we'll need an 8-channel mixer to handle all the inputs, at least."

" No…12 minimum!" Zel argued. "The mixer sends its signal to an amplifier. For a venue the size of a school gym, you will need at least 100 watts -- but 200 watts would be better. And we'd need PA speakers that can handle the power that the amp delivers."

"Yeah, and depending on the speakers we select, we may need stands for them, too," Val agreed.

Gourry, who had been listening with interest, had his own idea to toss in. "We've used monitor speakers on stage before, which were a big help so we could hear ourselves play. So, that would mean your mixer will need a monitor-out signal."

Val blinked, "Yeah, so we will need a monitor amp and several monitor speakers."

Zel sighed, "All together, the equipment list for this gig of Lina's might look something like this:

One 12-channel mixer Main amplifier Monitor amp Main speakers Speaker stands if appropriate Monitor speakers Speaker cables for main and monitor speakers Six to seven mikes Mic stands Mic cords Power cords and extension cords Each instrument amp, cables and cords Replacement parts and repair kit A van for hauling all this stuff… "

"Good thing we don't gotta buy the van," Gourry smiled.

Val and Zel continued making up lists and sketching layouts all the way to out the door to their cars. Xelloss followed in their wake, dark and secretive.

In the end, the Wednesday meeting had been a positive experience for them all. Which was saying something. A big something.

Thursday interview…

Grauscherra welcomed Zelgadiss into his office. "Thank you for accommodating me with this last minute schedule change. My assistant has gone out to bring us some ice," the slightly taller man said with a smile and firm handshake. "Unless you prefer your tea hot?"

Zelgadiss cleared his throat, "Ah...no thank you." He took the chair offered to him and looked around the office. He was missing lunch, but better that than miss this truly wonderful opportunity… The room, he noticed, was light and airy. Far different than when Xelloss' mother occupied it, when it was a darkened, smoke-filled tomb.

"Looking for familiar mementoes?"

Zelgadiss blushed slightly under the penetrating gaze. "It's unrecognizable from before."

"I practically had to have this place fumigated. As it was I had to tear down the walls to remove the cigarette smoke." He gave Zelgadiss a strange look. "Your records don't show you spent much time in trouble here."

"Ah…no." Zel sighed then decided to say the least possible.

"But you lived in her house, according to the records"

Another sigh. "My father was married to…the previous principal last year so I came in here to see her occasionally."

"The wicked step-mother?"

How was he to reply to that? ''Wicked' did not begin to cover Zelas. He chose a bland route. "We weren't close."

"I see…that added a step-brother to your family, didn't it…? Oh, excuse me." He paused to greet his assistant, Miss Sherra, who was carrying a large pitcher of tea, a bowl of crushed ice, and glasses on a tray. "Thank you. Right on my desk will be fine." Turning again to Zelgadiss he asked, "There is no way to replace a real mother, is there?"

"I wouldn't know…" Zel muttered under his breath. Zelgadiss was more interested in watching Sherra's movements as the principal filled the glasses with ice and poured the tea. What was she doing? Zel pretended to be interested in the offered drink, while listening to the woman sort through a few papers on the desk, discarding a few off the top. "…Shouldn't have been left out…" he over-heard her whisper to her boss at one point. No one but Zelgadiss could have made out her muffled words.

"…worry too much…He's hardly looked up…" Grauscherra whispered back with a smile and wave of his hand.

Now Zelgadiss was terribly interested in the content of those papers. However, how was he to get a look at them? He was in fact so intent on getting a look at those tossed notes, that he nearly spilled his drink all over his pants. "Gah!" he jumped as the cold ice danced off his lap.

The principal chuckled and presented his handkerchief for Zel's use. "I don't mean to make you nervous…You were saying about your birth mother?"

Oh no, of course you don't want to make me uncomfortable here asking me personal questions. "Sorry…I wasn't paying attention," Zel muttered. But he did manage to get a glimpse of the embroidery. Gourry had been right on target! Now, what had the man asked him? "Ah…Mother? No, that is, I never knew her. She died at my birth."

"So it's just you and your father living at home with your…step-brother?" Grauscherra pushed. He smiled casually, but Zelgadiss shifted uncomfortably.

"No. My father lives apart. Actually, I'm missing lunch right now…" he glanced furtively over one shoulder. Good. Sherra had gone.

Seeing that Zelgadiss was not to be more forth-coming on the topic of family relations, the man moved on. "Well, now…I'll cut to the chase. I was looking over your records. Very impressive. Four-point-oh. Tutoring. SATs over 1500. You should have your pick of colleges, or are you simply entering the university full-time in January?"

"No. I decided to tutor the computer lab and go half-time to the university. After that, I don't know. Full time next year. Medicine, maybe."

"A doctor?" Grauscherra looked taken aback. "Research?"

"I thought so, but maybe I could help other patients with my condition," Zel said firmly and looking the man directly in the eyes. He was daring the man to actually examine his scarred features.

"Yes, well, that might…be…an idea." Grauscherra was at a loss for words momentarily.

He had the man flustered at last. Zel smirked, "Or maybe I'll just drop out and become a rock star." There, now the man was off his beat!

Grauscherra tried to recover with a light chuckle, but Zel wasn't finished. "Getting mobbed by fans over the weekend was very…exhilarating. College. It isn't going anyplace. It'll be there when I'm ready." He fingered an earring and grinned.

Actually he was having a blast getting into character someplace between Xelloss and Val. Unfortunately, Grauscherra quickly concluded the conference with a lame, "Nearly time for my next student!"

Zel rushed to catch Lina and the others for the last few minutes of lunch. "Xelloss!"

"Yes?" Xelloss was seated alongside Sylphiel today.

Zel lowered his voice to a near whisper, "How late does the custodian work?"

Xelloss' eyes widened, a look of mirth spreading across his face. "Tonight? Very. The day-man leaves at three-thirty, while the night shift lady doesn't come on until seven and is here past midnight. May I ask…why?"

Zel shook his head. "Which one does office trash duty?"

"Night. Runs it through the shredder. Unless…"

"Unless, what?"

"Unless someone were to empty it sooner. After the office staff goes home. Someone without authority. There are secrets to be protected, you know." Xelloss stared at Zel, whose mouth curved into the tiniest of smiles.

"I may need to miss chem. lab tonight," Zel whispered.

"There is no lab. Eris said so, didn't you catch that announcement Monday? Wow, good thing I'm listening… Claims someone clogged the vent hoods and they are closed for repairs. So, you and I shall have some time on our hands." Xelloss smiled and gestured with both hands, empty.

Zel nodded. "I'll meet you at…Lina's after school? No? The park? Fine."

Xelloss was happy that he still had those magical keys to the high school building. "It gives me something to thank dear Zelas for," he smiled. That and the knowledge of the back entrance leading to the bell tower. From that door, he and Zelgadiss sneaked undetected into the school long after hours.

"If we go down those steps to that door, it'll take us to the basement," Xelloss indicated the door illuminated dimly with his flashlight, "We'll be able to follow one of the steam tunnels to the cafeteria, and from there up and right next door to the principal's office."

"How would you know about such a path?" Zel asked in a mixture of annoyance and wonder at his best friend.

"Oh, Zelas used it as an emergency exit to avoid…unwelcome encounters. She shunted me in and out this way many times. Here's a map she drew in case I might forget."

Zel snatched the paper out of Xelloss' hand and stared at it. "Fine. Lets go. You first."

"Okay, Do-kay!"

The basement was cluttered with years of discarded debris, broken play sets and chairs, forgotten boxes of decorations from past dances, and neglected signs. The two boys negotiated a path to a spot near the steam tunnel entrance, then stopped, puzzled.

"I don't see where…" Xelloss began.

"Help me move these screens. The door should be back here," Zel called out.

Working together, the two managed to shove enough garbage aside to reveal a grate-covered opening, gaping dark and wide. "How inviting." Zel smirked over at Xelloss. "Is it a muck-hole too?"

"No," Xelloss insisted. "Zelas never would have gone into a place infested with…unsanitary material. Follow me."

Bending their heads some afforded them enough clearance to enter the tunnel. "The floor's smooth so we can move quickly," Xelloss assured him. "Just keep your head low to avoid the pipes. They carry the steam generated heat to the rooms above for heating in winter."

Zelgadiss found the place to be most interesting. He would have liked to have stayed longer and mapped out the entire system, when Xelloss stopped in front of him. "What? Problem?" Zel asked.

"No. I think this is the turn… yes, see the exit and the steps up to the next floor?"

Zel smiled, "After you…"

Xelloss grinned, "You're not afraid of ghosts or anything, are you?"

"No. But I don't wish for a face-off with that crazy cafeteria lady."

"She's gone home. She leaves…all her staff does, before school closes. It'll be empty there, I assure you. What I don't know for certain is whether or not the principal's office staff will have left." Xelloss winked at Zel, then added, "But…I shall find out!"

He pulled out his cell phone and punched in a number. It rang several times then a message clicked in. Xelloss smiled, "All gone for the day."

Zel may have let out the breath he had been holding ever since they had entered the cafeteria pantry. "All right. That's good to know." Zelgadiss looked over and their eyes met.

"Something wrong?" Xelloss asked. His friend's eyes revealed a mood change.

Zel smirked, "You know, this is the first time we've gone on a mission together and been on the same side."

Xelloss returned a relieved smile, "We've always been on the same side, just coming from different directions. But, I know what you mean."

"Yeah, it's actually very…"

"Stimulating?"

"Yeah." Zel admitted. "Breaking and entry."

"Not 'breaking' technically speaking…and you left out the stealing part," Xelloss chuckled quietly.

"We haven't stolen anything, yet." Zelgadiss reminded him with a shiver of excitement.

"Yet."

"That's right, yet."

"Then, shall we?" Xelloss asked.

"We shall." Zel smirked again and stepped in behind Xelloss along a narrow unlit corridor. It ran straight a short distance, then turn sharply to one side. Their path divided at a 'Y'.

"Right. There's a door which opens into the outer office area. Yes, I'm absolutely sure. I used a computer in there many an evening," Xelloss said confidently.

"All right," Zel nodded, strode forward, pushing past Xelloss and silently turned the doorknob. With a gentle push, the door inched open.

The space was dark on the other side. Only a few blinking lights from a computer monitor, scanner, and various telephone machines provided illumination. "Clear," Zel whispered and opened the door.

It was the office where he'd picked up his registration and paid fees and waited to see...the principal. Now, it was creepy, but empty except for Xelloss and himself. Zel took a deep breath and held it, counting, steadying his nerves.

"We have at least an hour before the night custodian comes by the offices." Xelloss smiled unconcernedly and led the way again to the door of interest. He messed with the keys trying first one, then another. Perplexed, he sorted through his collection one more time.

"The man probably changed the lock on his door," Zel whispered. "Here let me see what I can do while you keep looking."

Zelgadiss removed a felt rag tied with a string from his pocket. He untied the knot and unfolded the cloth, revealing a glittering set of small tools. He chose one and inserted the pointed end into the lock opening and twiddled a bit. He kept his ear pressed to the doorknob, listening for the telltale clicks of the lock's barrel settling into place.

Xelloss gave up at last. He had tried all the possible keys, even the worn one he was positive had opened Zelas' office, but none had worked. Now, he waited for Zel.

Zel looked up, and then grinned, "Got it."

Returning his grin, Xelloss asked, "When did you learn to do that?"

Zel shrugged. "It's…a secret."

Xelloss punched his friend lightly on the shoulder. "Bastard…"

"I think we should keep our talk to the minimum," Zel warned him. "I don't want to draw attention to us. Here, over here's the trash basket…Yes!"

Both boys scrambled around the desk from opposite an overturned the basket. Zel nabbed the paper he was interested in, while Xelloss sorted through the rest using a pen to touch questionable objects. "He certainly likes to eat oranges," Xelloss remarked as he wrinkled up his nose.

"Tangerines. Those are tangerine skins. Smaller thinner…little oranges…" Zel corrected him. "I remember eating them as a kid."

"Me too. Zelas hated them but fa-ther…" Xelloss halted mid word. "Ate them at lot." He finished, but with difficulty. "I think she called them 'nasty clementines.'"

Zel nodded silently. "Oh…gods…Xelloss…"

"It's okay. I mean, when I was little, they were like parents to me so I can remember those times and not be too traumatized, right?"

"Shhhh! No, that's not what I meant. Look at this note!" Zel jammed the paper under Xelloss nose. He moved the flashlight closer so they could both read it.

Oh, my…

Xelloss jumped up off the floor and started scanning the bookshelf. "Hurry! See what more you can find. Check in the desk, file-- any place! We've got to find out just how much they have found out about us already!"

"This is now becoming dangerous, Xelloss."

"I know. Please, I don't want to think about that now. Let's learn all we can in here then get the hell out before we get caught." Xelloss said between clenched teeth.

Zel could tell his friend was frightened and going into survivor mode. Good. Xelloss was a great survivor. Zel jimmied the desk lock and rifled through all he could find, but there were no more documents. "I have a feeling that we have got a long night ahead of us on the Internet. There is no filing cabinet either. Anything?"

Xelloss snagged one folder off the shelf, folded it in half and pushed it under his belt. "Maybe. Time to move out, little brother?"

"Yes." But Zel said it on his way out the door. "Shh… I hear footsteps."

Xelloss grabbed Zel by the arm and yanked him to the floor. "Crawl over this way…" Xelloss hissed.

The outer office door opened. The light nearly blinded them as the switch was engaged. A lone figure stood in the doorway a moment, then moved, pushing a large rolling cart with a grunt. "Is that you Xelly? You back workin' late nights here fer the new boss?"

Xelloss gasped, then stood up, "Why yes! You startled Zelgadiss here though. We were just on our way out the door, when he heard you in the hall and fainted! See? Ah, yes, he's coming to now." Xelloss reached down and gave Zel and hand up. "Meet my brother, Zelgadiss, Mrs. Hanover."

Zel shakily clasped the cleaning lady's hand. He looked as if he were about to faint. "Ah…hi…"

"You should give me your schedule if yer gonna be here much. The new man, he don't tell me this things. Nice to meetcher…Zel… I guess I can't call you Zelly too now, can I?"

"Zel is fine."

"Yes, I should. He and I are taking classes at the university this year and aren't around much." Xelloss was just starting to explain, when she interrupted.

"Oh, yes…I know the two of you…Zel, now…you run the computer lab fer the school now. That's okay. I know to expect you two then. Go on now. I got lots of work to do." She waved them off and set to busying herself emptying the trash. "Oh, and he changed the locks so if there's any need for you to go into the boss's office, ya gotta wait fer me to open up. Okay?"

Xelloss nodded, "Thanks, but…I don't think we should. The computer out here is sufficient and you never know what kind of secrets he may not want us to see in there."

Mrs. Hanover chuckled, "Well, yer honest boys. Good night!"

"Good night!" the two boys answered, then bolted down the corridor to the steam tunnels.

Once they were outside, safe in Zelgadiss' car once again, he asked, "How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Hold your composure and think up all that…crap and sound so…calm and trustworthy?" Zel was breathing hard yet trying to slow his pounding heart at the same time.

"Why, I've been acting for years, little brother, trying to fit in even while I was screaming in my head. Well, that and I did receive some training at my mother's summer camp." Xelloss smiled.

Zel smiled back. "Fine. I guess I'll have to learn my own way."

"Yes you will. You always like to do things the hard way."

"Hard? After reading your life story, any way I choose is going to be easier." Zel smirked.

"Glad you think so, little brother, because our lives are going to be an uphill battle from here on out for a bit."

"But this time," Zel looked over at his best friend meaningfully. "You and I are doing it together."

"With a little help from our friends?" Xelloss smiled.

"Better believe it!" Zel laughed. "And this time we're going to have fun."

Xelloss raised an eyebrow in question, "Oh really?"

"Oh…yes…"

"Oh…Joy!" they laughed in unison.

From the Authors:

Seyruun High Jinx now has a home! Ever wanted to see what the kids look like as envisioned by Frog? No? Well, you can anyway now that our staff photographer has been to their dimension and returned with photos! If you are interested, visit the website. Where? Please go to the author profile for Kaeru Shisho and choose the link. Hope to see you there! --KS

End Seyruun High Jinx –NEXT! Chapter Fourteen.