Part Three

197S9.8.49

Man, my sleeping schedule's all off. Waking up at the crack of dawn sucks. In fact, being awake during the day sucks. I'm a night person, always have been. I guess it's only logical since Bikanel's so hot that being awake during the day is like instant death. That's why we have battery-powered lights, so we can work at night. Yevonites would call them instruments of the devil… really, they're just so we survive.

I guess I've been coming to learn a lot more about Yevon because of Baralai. I have to say, the guy's been really nice about it. Aside from looking at me a little funny every now and then, he doesn't seem to twitch in revulsion at my presence anymore. I suppose that he's cute is a reason for that… you can't hate a guy who's that cute. It's like hating a kitten, or a baby shoopuf…

So, apparently I'm useful. Tonight, I found the Noojster trying to oil himself… heh… that sounds so bad, but it's true! He wasn't doing very well – probably all the Yevon excess – and, finally, I found the chance to offer my assistance. It seems like such a simple thing, but sometimes people just don't know simple things. It's a shame, but it's true. I showed him how to best oil things… you don't want to get the oil everywhere, just where it needs to go. And I gave him one of the pin point oilers I had in my pack to let him get down into the little parts. He seemed like he needed it. I have another anyway, even if it's still on the tube.

Maybe if I can get him to trust me on this little thing, eventually he'll let me take him apart.

197S9.8.50

Praise be to vilgehk Yevon! Baralai finally hit a bullseye!

Damn I'm tired!

197S9.9.01

Heh. Nooj is sleeping with Paine! I saw that, and he doesn't even know it. Oh well. That's his business, sleeping with someone in his squad. I should've figured, though, that the squad leader would get the only chick. The best for the best, or some cred like that.

What am I saying? I'm so not jealous.

Nevermind that I think Baralai's probably sleeping with her too. I don't know how that's possible with a guy who clearly is a vub. They keep smiling at each other, though. They spend lots of time talking, and Baralai giggles. It's so unmanly. We're soldiers, man! Not pathetic village girls!

Oh well. We got assignments today… well, sort of. They told us we're going to assemble and board ships. Some news, guys! I expected a little more than that. At least Noojster seemed excited about the prospect. I imagine he must be getting really bored if he's resorted to doing Paine to pass the time.

I really shouldn't rag on the guy. He's having a hard time with that leg of his – it makes me wince every time I see him walk. It creaks, man. That's not cool. Even with the oiling yesterday… or was it the day before? I don't know anymore. But anyway, it's making all kinds of noise with all that Yevon-Spiran junk in there. I can't figure out which it is, Yevon or Spiran… probably Spiran. Yevonites probably already damned him to life as a roving half-machina fiend.

Not me, though.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Uh, wow. I got to touch it. Him! The leg! I got to touch it, put my hands inside, get my fingers dirty in it!

Best day ever!

I knew it would happen! I knew he'd trust me enough! Always trust an Al Bhed with machina, isn't that an old idiom or something? Who knows. But he let me totally dig around inside of it, taking out things. Man, you wouldn't believe how many random springs I found in there that did nothing but muck up the works. I don't know what it is with Spiran mechanics… they think that adding a spring is the solution to any machina problem. All they do is get oily and rusty if they're not in the right places! So I took them all out, and Noojster was giving me all these weird looks as he was trying not to act nervous. I think he doubted me! Tch!

…I've gotta quit calling him Noojster, or he's gonna kill me in my sleep…

I don't know if I heard half of what he was saying. My heart was racing! To touch machina like that, to take it apart, to see at least part of the inner workings of a machina-fused human – unthinkable! And I got to do it! I think most of the guys back home would easily kill their own brothers for such a chance… and yet, here I am, with the grease on my hands to prove it.

Although, he did talk about Lai. I guess Noojster – Nooj! – doesn't really have faith in Lai's ability to shoot a gun at all. Well! I guess he didn't know that I've been teaching him! I managed to convince him to have a sort of contest, a shooting match if you will, down at the little range I created for Lai and me. We'll see how that goes. I think everyone might be a little surprised! Here's hoping Lai doesn't choke up or start shaking or anything like that. I've gotta get it into his head not to be scared! Because man, you get a whole new look on your squad leader when you've got your hands inside his leg…

I get to take apart Nooj's arm tomorrow! Finally, some excitement!