Gippal frowned in concentration as he fitted the final part onto the machina drone. The screws that went into repairing this particular model were small and required careful attention or else it would not work properly at all. So, Gippal's morning had been spent tinkering away at it, fixing the internal components and replacing the rusty, battered exterior. Normally, he would not have bothered to fix a piece of machina so busted up as this one had been but after examining it thoroughly, he saw that it had the potential to be great if it was in better condition.
"Vehycco!" He exclaimed, standing and stretching his sore muscles, stiff from hours of huddling over the machina. [Finally!]
He stood back to examine his work proudly.
The machina drone was a new model, built from an incredibly old one that Gippal's men had found in the sands of Bikanel Desert. Not even the oldest and most experienced of Al Bhed mechanics had ever seen this particular model before and by the severe weather damage done to the drone, it was believed to have originated as far back as to the days of Zanarkand's time. Gippal personally didn't care. It had been an opportunity to add another worker machina to his collection and he'd taken it. Plus, the challenge of fixing it had grabbed Gippal's attention instantaneously.
"Let's see what this baby can do," He mumbled to himself and activated the drone.
The green spherical jewel that adorned the drone's chest lit up. The sound of metal grating against metal was heard as the internal components came to life. Two round red lights on the 'face' of the drone lit up as the drone 'opened its eyes'. The left arm, from Gippal's analysis, had once been used as the primary weapon of the drone; a rapid-fire gun had been latched to it at one point. Gippal had uninstalled it and attached a part from another machina. When he'd discovered its obvious past as a soldier drone, he'd immediately set to work on replacing the software with a "Worker" program.
Now it stood before him on its spidery legs, both arms outstretched as it watched Gippal expectantly. Gippal tested it out with a remote: making it move its limbs, testing its ability to respond to orders, and watching for any signs of awkward movement. When he was satisfied, he shut it back down and whistled cheerily while sauntering out of the tent. As usual, the sun blared down mercilessly on the gold sands of Bikanel Desert. Gippal squinted, shading his eyes with his hand as he took in the site set up for digging excavations in the harsh desert.
When he spotted the site's coordinator Nhadala, he whistled and motioned her over. She joined him, pushing her protective goggles up into her stringy blond hair. "I'm not a dog, Gippal. The whistling stops. What do you want?"
"I am a genius," He said in a cocky tone, grinning from ear to ear. He knew that annoyed her to no end.
"That so?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
"That old machina Jerra found? I fixed it up. I even made some adjustments. And you said it'd be impossible…"
"Well, let's take a look then."
They ducked inside the tent that Gippal had spent all morning working in. He activated the machina drone, handed Nhadala the remote, and stood back as she tested it out for herself. After a moment, Nhadala was appeased and gave the remote back to him. "I'm impressed. The movement in its left arm is kind of off and that back plate could use some oiling. But with a few more tweaks, this will be excellent."
Gippal made a bored face, "I'll be gracious today."
Nhadala blinked. "What?"
"I'll let you be the FIRST to get my autograph. I mean, it's not every day that you get encounter such brilliance and ingenuity and-"
"-And self-righteous egotism?"
"Well, I was going to say devilishly handsome good looks. You're harsh, Nhadala," He feigned a pout which she predictably rolled her eyes at. It was a good thing they had been working together for so long. She was used to his flirty tendencies and playfulness even though she rewarded him with wry, scathingly blunt answers.
"At least," she continued with a nod towards the machina as she looked it over again, "we'll have another drone out there. "We could use the extra help. Daelin said he found three more like this one out there so don't start thinking that your work's done yet, O devilishly handsome one."
Gippal stared at her in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me."
Nhadala shook her head, though. "Nope. Go out there and see for yourself. He even said that they were uncovering more." She frowned. "I wonder why there are so many of these things out there? No one's ever seen this model before but we're finding so many of them these days. It's like an army."
That sent an instinctive shudder of fear down Gippal's spine as a sudden image of the massive, monstrosity that was Vegnagun from two years back filled his head. An army of Soldier Machina…scary. He allowed himself to mull on it for a moment and then shrugged dismissively.
"Who knows? In any case, just get some people started on them and I'll be back to help whenever I get a chance."
"Where are you going?"
"What? Didn't you know? Lady Yuna's getting married! I'm spending a few days in Luca for her wedding."
Nhadala's eyes widened. "Oh! I'd almost forgotten." Then she added sheepishly. "I guess I've been a little TOO eager to find out more about these drones. I can't believe I forgot. Brother's been babbling on and on about it all week."
This made the young Machine Faction leader grin. "I'll bet he wasn't too happy."
"Sobbing like a baby," Nhadala confirmed. Both of them were very much aware of Brother's stranger, disturbing obsession with his own cousin. They exchanged knowing glances and started laughing. One of Nhadala's workers from a returning hover suddenly called to her, gesturing for her to join them.
"Hmm…it looks like they found another one. I'd better get back to work."
"Yeah. I'll see you in a few days," Gippal pivoted and began walking towards the tent to grab his bag.
"Oh, and Gippal?"
Gippal turned. "Yeah?"
"Do me a favor and make sure Brother doesn't embarrass himself too much, will you?"
"Who am I? Yevon?" He cracked but Nhadala's face was serious so he relented. "Okay, okay. I will. I will. I promise I'll keep an eye on the goof."
She grinned wolfishly. "I hardly think that eye of yours will STAY on him when a certain bride's maid will be there."
"What?"
"…Nevermind."
Gippal got a lift back to Djose Temple on a small airship named The Airazor that a friend of his owned. It was kind of a shabby ship and after being on Brother's incredible Celsius, The Airazor was downright a piece of crap. At least it flew and Veyan faithfully kept her in her peak condition with all sorts of modifications and repairs. His own airship was back at Djose where it was being worked on for a damaged turbine.
"Approaching Djose Temple," Veyan said from where he sat in the pilot's seat. Beside him was his co-pilot and wife Avia.
"Got everything, Gippal?" Avia asked kindly to their passenger. She smiled warmly, her dark green eyes lighting up and making the swirl distinctive to Al Bhed heritage in them more prominent.
Gippal grinned and held up the simple bag he had brought with him to help Nhadala out at the dig. "I'm good. Thanks again for the ride, you two."
"No problem, buddy. Don't work too hard. I'll swing by in a few months so we can go watch some Blitzball, 'kay?" Veyan answered energetically.
"Sounds good. Thanks again."
Veyan brought The Airazor to a hover near the clearing over Djose Temple. Gippal stood and went to the Save Sphere (it became the teleporter's unofficial name after Veyan Oh-so-cleverly thought of it with a gleeful, "SAVE Spheres SAVE time!") that sat in the back and touched it, transporting himself instantly down to the Save Sphere outside of the Bikanel Digging Registration Office. He waved up to Veyan and Avia as The Airazor's thrusters flared up and the ship began pulling away.
Gippal was greeted by several people outside of the Temple, some waiting to get into the registration office, others just loitering. He pushed open the massive doors and felt the cool air of the temple caress his face. Inside, Djose Temple had changed. After the Vegnagun incident two years earlier, Gippal had decided that it was time to remodel. Even though he'd been comfortable working in the stifling, dark space, there had always been a slight feel of something…too spiritual about the temple. Despite the Fayth being long gone and the Cloister of Trials now nothing more than a massive storage room and extra working space, it often felt to Gippal like he and his workers were somehow intruding on holy land.
The statues commemorating the High Summoners of the past had been removed. Gippal had had them sent to Bevelle where Praetor Baralai kept them in a newly built Hall of Memories. It seemed to be the perfect place for them as the Hall of Memories was a tribute to all of the Summoners that gave their lives to battle Sin. After they were removed, Gippal had the rest of the temple remodeled and even widened so they could have more space to work on the machina in.
He made his way to his office. It was the same cluttered mess that he had left. Gippal carelessly tossed his bag down and sat down on the bed. He began stripping out of his boots and armor, his mind already craving a nice shower after spending all morning the grueling desert heat. He grabbed a towel and was heading towards the tiny washroom he'd had built beside his office when someone pounded on the door.
"Fryd ec ed?" Gippal demanded, annoyed. [What is it?]
"Cusauha'c rana du caa oui." [Someone's here to see you.]
Gippal frowned. "Fru?" [Who?]
A new voice answered. "It's me. Paine."
His face immediately lit up into a grin at the dull, calm voice. He pulled open the door and greeted his old friend. "Dr. P! Fancy meeting you here!"
"Stop that," Paine growled and walked in.
Gippal chuckled and closed the door. "You're early. I just barely got back."
"So I noticed," Paine remarked with a quick look at his dirty appearance. "You have sand all over you. Go shower. Baralai and Nooj are waiting."
"Aww, not even a hug for an old friend, Dr. P?" He opened his arms and grinned teasingly as he trudged towards her.
She frowned and evaded him. "Not when you smell like that. GO." She gave him a push towards the washroom.
"Oh, okay. I see how it is!" Gippal pretended to be hurt, dramatically 'bursting into tears', and running off through the doorway.
Half an hour later he was clean, refreshed, and enthusiastically walking side by side with Paine out of Djose Temple and towards the Celsius. When they got onboard, Gippal found Nooj and Baralai talking to Buddy. They turned when they heard the two of them enter.
"Gippal," Nooj simply said with a nod of his head.
"It's good to see you again," Baralai added with a gentle smile.
"Well, it looks like the whole gang is reunited," Gippal commented with a grin. For Yuna's wedding, the three faction leaders had decided unanimously that it'd be best to leave all politics aside so they would not bring any trouble to the High Summoner's wedding. The three of them had opted to take the trip as private leave of absences from their factions and Paine had volunteered to take them to Luca. Luckily, their factions had been getting along for the last two years and they intended to keep it that way. Yuna deserved a peaceful, happy wedding day after all that she had endured for Spira's sake. They would attend as friends and ensure that. Besides, three leaders of three different factions attending as friends would set a good example.
It felt good to be among them, Gippal admitted to himself. It felt like old times.
"Well now that we're all here, let's get this show on the road," Paine said. She moved past Gippal and straight for the empty pilot's seat beside Buddy.
"Huh? You're piloting?" asked Gippal in surprise. "But where's Brother? This is his airship!"
"He's in the cabin. He been in there sobbing like a baby for days," Buddy informed him as he and Paine began start up procedures.
"Uh huh…" Gippal exchanged glances with Baralai, tilting his head and scratching the back of his neck. He walked over towards the pilot's seat and asked, "Do you even know how to fly this thing?"
Paine waved a hand, "Please. Effortless."
"Don't worry, Gippal. She has it under control," Baralai spoke up from the seat that he had taken in the empty chair on Paine's lower left. "She wanted to be the pilot, after all."
Gippal laughed at the allusion to their dream of flying an airship together back in their Crimson Squad days. "That old dream! In that case, where to Captain Noojster?"
"Brats," Nooj simply grunted but chuckled. Oh yes, this was certainly like old times.
"Hey Paine," Gippal said when something occurred to him. "Is it just you? I know Yuna's in Luca getting ready for the wedding. Where's Rikku?"
To his surprise, an odd look of concern adorned Paine's face for a moment. "Last I heard, she's going to the Calm Lands to pick up a wedding present from Clasko for Yuna. She's supposed to meet us in Luca when she gets back."
"Last you…heard?" Gippal repeated. "You guys aren't traveling together any more?"
Paine shook her head. "She's been doing it solo for a while now. She gives us a call once in a while from the CommSpheres."
Come to think of it, he hadn't heard from her in a while either. The last time Gippal saw Rikku, she'd stopped by with Brother to help out with some machina Cid needed them to retrieve from Djose about a year ago. Since then, he'd been busy excavating Bikanel and working with Nooj and Baralai to keep the peace in Spira to worry much about the energetic girl. So she was traveling around the world on her own…he was surprised. He didn't think Rikku had it in her to do it alone.
"Imagine that. Cid's little girl grew up," Gippal murmured.
The tone in which Paine answered puzzled him. "You have no idea."
A/N: I love feedback. Thoughts? Comments? I'd love to hear them. Read and Review!