I have to thank Lorelai Kline for her idea and Sorceress Myst for helping her to develop her idea! So yeah...if you didn't take the hint, this idea is not my own and I owe them for letting me use it! (THANKS!)

I did make a few small changes to the original idea, but its nothing major at all...

Pairings: Nel X just about any male on the planet... Eventually will make itself into an Alnel. There is implied Fayt X Maria and Fayt X Sophia but its nothing major...at least I don't think it will be...

I hope everyone enjoys this! It's basically something to keep me going while I'm writing my other SO3 fic Ever Onward. But these chapters are going to be a lot shorter than the one's in that fic.

Anyhow, on to the disclaimer!

DISCLAIMER: Sadly I do not own Star Ocean or the characters presented in the game. I own nothing and even if you did sue me you'd probably end up with less than what you started with.

Chapter 1

The beginnings of Chaos

'A little bit of this...' The inventor thought as she threw some odd looking herbs into her already boiling concoction in the cauldron. It hissed violently as the ingredients graced the surface of the bubbling white liquid. This caused for some of the other inventors occupying the workshop to look over at her. Her nervousness at their attention caused her to laugh oddly and wave bashfully. As soon as she realized what she was doing she blushed and turned away from their eyes and back to her invention.

She continued to stir the liquid, sloshing it around its container carelessly. Her mind wasn't exactly on cooking, rather it was on certain blue haired genetic freaks. At the thought she began to whip the liquid more violently around in the cauldron. Ever since she had joined the group she noticed the change. He treated her differently, like she was a child that needed to be nurtured. Sure his attitude had changed a little when he found out that she was also one of them, but that didn't stop the connection that they had.

Her whipping actions became slower and her shoulders drooped a little as she thought about it. Fayt and Maria had a connection that she couldn't even begin to understand. They had only met a short time ago and yet they seemed so trusting of each other and close. Despite her years of friendship with him she didn't have that connection, and if she did she didn't see it. It wasn't fair how she could just walk into Fayt's life and take him away from her.

'But that's all going to change when I'm done with this!' A smile crept across her features before it turned into a lopsided maniacal grin. Her gray eyes were alighted with something akin to malice, a look that did not fit her girly and innocent features and made her all the more scary. She withdrew the rather large stirring rod she had been using and began to search for the last ingredient she would need for this project to be a success.

"Oh...come on, I know you're here somewhere." She said to herself as she scanned the cabinets in the workshop. Nothing so far. "Come out come out wherever you are." She cooed. Her actions were now beginning to be noticed by the other inventors who were now staring at her strangely. The killer chef walked out promptly apparently thoroughly annoyed with the brown-headed girl's actions.

"Where did you go? I know I bought some and I had it when I came in." She stood up from her crouching position next to the final cabinet available in the workshop. No luck yet. Her eyes scanned the area, not noticing the eyes upon her, in search of some sort of hint as to where she had put her most important ingredient. Then her eyes landed on her bag with her little stuffed animal hanging from her staff. A smile spread across her face as she quickly went over to the bag and began to rummage through it. Her actions ceased when her small hands came upon a cool surface. She grasped it and then pulled it out slowly.

"There you are!" Her victory cry rang throughout the building. But she took no notice. In her hands she had a vial filled with a pink liquid. She happily made her way over to her cauldron, humming joyfully. The contents were still bubbling dangerously. The stench of the concoction wafted to her nose. She pulled back.

"Eww...that doesn't smell so good. Maybe I should add the Tears of Aphrodite now..." Her hand rested under her chin as she took on a thoughtful pose. There was no way the brew could smell any worse so that meant it had to be time to add it. It only took another second of deliberation before she approached the pot again. As carefully as she could she pulled the cork from the vial with the pink liquid inside. Holding the vial and arm's length away, she turned it upside down over the cauldron, effectively dumping the contents into the mixture. It gave another hiss, this one louder than the last. Sophia jumped back in fear of what she had created. Her and all the other remaining inventors ducked being the nearest table or obstacle they could find.

A red cloud of smoke emerged from the bubbling pot of doom. As the liquid continued to bubble some of the scalding contents began to splatter out of the pot. Everyone was quick to gain distance from the pot, another inventor even ran out the door, leaving his things where they were. Sophia squealed in disappointment.

"No! This isn't fair!" She couldn't say anymore because she was pulled out of range of the angry pot by Gossam. She looked up thankfully as she noticed that had she not been pulled away she would have been struck by a nasty dose of her own creation.

"What exactly were you making?" He asked her, a hint of anger in his voice.

Sophia looked down but knew that she couldn't just pretend that she didn't hear him. She wasn't going to be rude.

"Ummm...oh n-nothing...uhhh" She answered bashfully. Gossam just accepted that answer. She was a very pretty girl after all. He especially took delight in her short skirt.

"Hey! What are you looking at me like that for!" Sophia yelled at him. She wasn't one to accept men's wandering eyes, especially creepy older men. Besides, she did have rights, no chauvinistic male pig was going to stomp on them. Before a huge argument could ensue the hissing sound let out by the pot vanished and all was quiet in the workshop.

"Is it...done?" Sophia asked innocently. Gossam just ignored the young girl and returned to his station. Luckily the red goo did not have the range to hit anything he was working on. Briefly he thanked Apris for his luck. The last thing he needed was some odd poison killing off the fans of his delectable food (that is if you can stomach cardboard).

Slowly Sophia crept forward, avoiding the slippery mess on the floor. She made sure to keep her hands up in case the concoction wasn't through reaping havoc. The stench coming from the pot was disgusting and she saddened as she realized that she wouldn't be able to use her potion after all. 'Aww fudge monkeys.'

It appeared that the pot was done hissing but she didn't want to take any chances. She quickly extinguished the flame beneath it and removed it from the stove. 'I'll have to dispose of the evidence...' She thought wickedly. She grabbed the pot and looked around her suspiciously. Despite her tries to nonchalantly leave the workshop, she was drawing attention. Finally she gave up and ran out as fast as she could, leaving a mess behind her. As she flew out the door she didn't even notice the redheaded woman standing with her hand outstretched to open the door as she flew past. Nel just watched in amusement as Sophia trotted down the street of Aquios looking like a crazed person. 'Wow, I guess this whole Fayt situation really has gotten to her...'

She shrugged and pulled the door to the workshop open. What she found surprised her greatly. All over the floors and cabinets of the left side of the workshop was this red goo. Gossam also seemed to be thoroughly agitated and Michelle had his nose up in disgust as he continued writing his book. 'What in the name of Apris happened here?' She thought to herself. This place was a mess! 'Maybe Sophia really has gone off the deep end...' Nel sighed to herself. There was only one way this mess was going to go away, and that was if she cleaned it herself.

Slightly frustrated at having to delay the synthesis she wanted to perform on her daggers, she set off bustling around the workshop. Nel had always been an extremely immaculate person and that didn't change when it came to the workshop. She scrubbed every last bit of the offending scum off of the floors and cabinets. Not a trace of the red goo was left anywhere.

After a few more moments of scrubbing a stain out of the floor she stood up. Her eyes scanned the area with a preditory glint. Even if there was anymore dirt in the workshop it would have run in fear. Finally satisfied a smirk came to her face. She ran a hand along her forehead to wipe away the small prickles of sweat that she had worked up. It was then that she noticed a glass.

Usually there was some sort of refreshments available to the inventors as they worked, so that is what she assumed this was. She strode over to it, suddenly aware of just how parched she was. Her hand encased the glass that contained the red liquid and in a moment she downed all of its contents.

A sour look came over her face as she registered the taste of the drink. However she forced herself to down it, after all, spitting up an entire glass of something wasn't exactly appealing nor lady like. With difficulty she pushed the rest of the liquid down her esophagus. She slammed the glass down onto the counter. This had to be someone's idea of a bad joke. That stuff was repulsive! Just because she drank it didn't mean she wasn't going to let everyone know about her displeasure at the drink. Someone was going to pay dearly.

"Who was the one who prepared the drink set out over here?" Nel asked, her voice menacing.

At first she didn't get a reply, the two inventors remaining just continued on in their work seemingly unaware of the distress of the third party among them.

"I see. Well then, I suppose that I can't thank who ever it was who made it properly." She continued allowing her voice to return to a somewhat genuine tone and crossing her arms as if she was disappointed. This did cause for some attention. Both Gossam and Michelle looked over to her. At first they seemed normal. But then they seemed to change. Nel looked at them in confusion, but simply turned away after a moment of silence. She did have things to do anyway.

With the skill of a practiced swordsman she unsheathed her daggers and laid them down on the table before her. She was about to retrieve the materials to synthesize her blade when she realized someone was behind her. Her eyebrow twitched in annoyance but she forced herself to remain calm and tolerant. She turned to face the one who dared interrupt her, a look of annoyance clearly in place.

"What is it that you want Gossam?" She asked smoothly, not betraying her true feelings. It was a trait she loved having. Being easy to read could get you into trouble.

"Well you see...uhh...Lady Nel...ummm..." He was stumbling over his words quite badly. Nel almost pitied him. Apparently she had seemed a little to angered at him. She immediately let her features relax in hopes of encouraging him to finish his statement. That was when she noticed. 'Is he blushing! What the hell for? Maybe it's something really personal and he just needs to talk about it...Yeah that must be it.'

She place a hand on the man's shoulder, "Go ahead, I'm listening." He seemed to turn an even brighter red at the contact and her words. This was truly becoming very odd.

"Well...uhh...You said you liked that drink! I made it! Only to please you Lady Nel! I hope you liked it!" He spat out quickly. She registered his words slowly. So he was behind that god forsaken drink. She briefly mused over the idea of stabbing him but then remembered his words from just moments ago. He apparently didn't mean for it to be repulsive, even though it was. She supposed she could just let this one go.

"What are you talking about! I'm the one that prepared the drink for Lady Nel!" Nel swung her head in the direction of the voice to find Michelle. When her eyes fell upon him she watched as he puffed out his chest and attempted to stand in a 'cool' position. He really looked rather uncomfortable and contorted.

"So Lady Nel, or shall I call you Nel..." Michelle began. Somehow his voice had gotten oddly deeper. She cringed.

"No. Lady Nel is fine." Nel replied cutting him off. The young writer blushed at her response to him. Things were certainly odd today.

"Ha! She had no interest in you! Leave her for me!" Gossam shouted out at the young inventor.

"What! A cretin like you! Don't insult the Lady's intelligence!" Michelle yelled back. Nel just stood there baffled as the two continued to trade insults. It was actually quite a funny scene to behold, but she forced herself not to burst out laughing. Instead she decided it was probably best that she left for now. She gathered her daggers and returned them to their respective sheaths at her waist. In a painfully slow manner she crept towards the door, hoping to avoid the to male gazes. No such luck was bestowed upon her.

The fight paused for a moment. Gossam had Michelle hanging upside down by the leg while Michelle was holding onto Gossam's leg and was positioned to bite him at any moment. Both were staring at her intently. She gulped.

"Lady Nel! Don't go! We just wanted to-" They yelled in unison. Too late though. She was out the door and running. They both finished their sentences rather unenthusiastically, "know if you wanted to have dinner.." Gossam promptly dropped Michelle to the ground none too gently.

After a few more verbal assaults each returned to their previous activities.

Little did Nel know that the drink she had partaken of had originally been water.

See that little button down there. Yes it is indeed very enticing and it's calling your name. Please review and tell me what you think: )