A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.

WARNING: OOC, LANGUAGE

Chapter 3: Out of the Bag

Three pairs of eyes eyed the two below them with shocked and widened eyes; so shocked that they each thought that their eyes would burst within its sockets.

So that was the person Gale had been "collaborating" with. They had expected anything and everything but this display. Never in a million years or in any weird or eccentric dimension did they ever suspect, even in the slightest that the woman before their eyes was involved with their cold green-haired comrade. And it wasn't just a normal relationship either…

It was an intimate and adventurous coupling. None of them had any idea that Gale could have been that passionate…No.

To them, he was incapable of even getting such thoughts…But according to what they had just bore witness to, they were proven mistaken.

They had underestimated their eccentric comrade…

And aside from underestimating his sexual prowess, they had underestimated his loyalty…

Their idea of Gale being in cahoots with other tribes all went up in smokes. He wasn't doing anything that was unlawful. He had merely chosen a…different way of experimentation. That was all.

And there they were panicking for nothing. And there they were looking like complete idiots up at the air ducts. And there they were looking like a group of perverted peeping toms.

Oh, for shame. Serph really was ashamed…How did he ever let himself be convinced by Heat and Cielo?! Of all people?

Heat couldn't move; he couldn't breathe.

He then smirked within, 'If that is a part of the new training manual as an endurance training, I'd definitely sign up…' he vowed silently as he gazed upon the Argilla's luscious and nude body and heard her desperate moans and groans.

Serph eyed Heat from the duct that they were in with concern. He knew that look that Heat was giving as he looked at the two engage in their…act. He himself was getting that feeling…but as leader, he needed to control himself.

He then looked at Cielo, his eyes were also glued to the oblivious couple below and his mouth was hanging agape.

Serph rolled his eyes and lightly shoved Cielo, "Hey! Don't get distracted. Heat!" he hissed at him.

He sympathized with his comrade, he really did…But this wasn't the time or the place to be thinking about such things.

Now, they had a covert mission to accomplish.

They had listened to Gale and had known him to be "experimenting" on an even newer training manual. And this was probably it.

They were experimenting on the combat performance of a soldier with a handicap on the senses.

And from they way they were speaking now, now that their…er, passionate albeit a bit violent act, had ended, it would seem that combat performance was poor. Seeing it from that perspective, Serph agreed with Gale. In all respects, their soldiers must be prepared for all eventualities after all; including what to do or how to fight when they lost a hand, an arm or had become blind.

What he didn't expect was that…he had actually received input from…

"Argilla…"

Serph raised an eyebrow; that was Heat. Heat was…moaning her name? Serph grinned, "What you wouldn't give to be in Gale's position right now."

Heat felt his cheeks burn in embarrassment and he glowered at his leader, "Shut the fuck up you bastard!"

Cielo cursed under his breath, "Shut up brudda! Dey could hear us!"

And hear them, Argilla did.

"Someone's here!" they heard her say.

Panic began to surface within Cielo's gut and he crawled backwards, "L-let's go mon!"

Serph cringed; Cielo had the tendency to panic and when he did, it was usually disastrous.

And right now, their situation was fragile. If Cielo panicked…

"Stop moving you idiot! The duct will-!"

Too late.

The three fell from the ducts as it collapsed and landed on the floor with a loud bang and thud.

xxxxx

Gale grabbed Argilla and moved as they heard the crash. The ducts were collapsing! Gale stood there, still holding Argilla, looking at the debris that had fallen.

Argilla removed her blindfold and screamed as she beheld the three people that crashed from the ceiling. She immediately pressed herself against Gale, in hopes of protecting some of her more private parts from their hungry stares…Most especially Heat's…

Gale understood and held the woman against him tightly. He looked at the three of them; at Heat, Serph and Cielo who were dusting themselves from the fall, but nonetheless, had their eyes fixed on him and Argilla.

"What the fuck are you guys doing here?!" she yelled, ashamed.

Heat snorted, "Not Gale, that's for sure."

Argilla glared at him as she understood his lame comeback. She looked at Serph and glared at him. She had expected something like this from Heat, but not from Serph.

Serph just scratched his head and looked at her apologetically. He nodded and began to walk out of the room, earning him questioning looks from both Cielo and Heat.

"I expect to see you two in my office in fifteen minutes. Heat, Cielo, let's go."

Heat's eyes widened, "But, but…!"

Serph rolled his eyes but kept walking, "I know you prefer to see her nude, but it isn't proper. Let's go."

"Wait up!" Cielo jogged up to his leader, leaving Gale and Argilla.

Argilla glared at Heat. He wanted to see her naked?! He was such a pervert!

"You heard Serph Heat! Get out!" she yelled at him, holding onto Gale tighter. Heat returned her glare passionately, muttering a few curses here and there as he stalked out of the trashed room.

Seeing that they were alone once more, the two broke apart. Argilla sighed, "Well…that was bad."

Gale blinked and looked at her expressionlessly, "I wouldn't say that. I am certain that Serph would understand my methods for experimentation and research. He may also end up as a supporter."

Argilla groaned, "Whatever. Let's just get ready."

"You're right."

Argilla made for her uniform but stopped as Gale touched her shoulder, "Argilla."

She turned around to look at him, "What is it?"

She didn't mean that. She already knew what he was going to say. The cat was out of the bag. The secret was out…They had nothing to hide now. She could feel the anxiety crawl up her spine originating from where his hand touched her shoulder.

She looked at him. He was calm. His face was soothed and none of his muscles were stressed…But it was his eyes that betrayed everything.

He was worried.

She cupped his face in her hands, "Nothing's going to happen."

"I know."

She smiled at him, "Well, come on, we have to get going."

A moment later, they were both fully clothed, except that Argilla was missing her jacket…He internally smirked; it was because of him anyway…

Oh well, he could always get her another one. She wouldn't miss it.

"Heat wants you." he deadpanned.

She giggled, "So?"

"And Cielo is fond of you."

"And?"

"Serph is quite taken with you."

Here, she gave him a bemused look, "Gale, I don't know what it has to do with us…Heat, Cielo and Serph are comrades…They like me, sure, but by now, they already know how things are between us…They wouldn't do anything to endanger that…" she told him convincingly, gazing deep within his uncertain emerald eyes.

"I…I am uncertain." he told her honestly.

She chuckled and drew his face near hers, "Well, I'm not. Gale, you're the one who stresses on teamwork…It's time to put that belief to the test."

Gale cast his head down. That was why he was cold in the first place. He wanted to create barriers around himself. He knew not some powerful emotions…such as love, but he knew what desire and camaraderie were. He was afraid to experience it for himself; he knew that it was painful.

But being with her made the pain easier to withstand. But even still, it was his insecure self that drove him to keep their relationship a secret. But now the secret was out.

It was time to face his fears about his insecurities and face the reactions of his comrades. It was time to put his belief on camaraderie to the test. She was right.

Argilla smiled at him still and kissed him lightly, "It's fine."

In that moment, something told him to believe her. And believe her he did. He allowed himself a small smile, "Yes. It'll do."

Argilla began to move away when Gale pulled her back. She looked at him with confused eyes, "What is it?"

He grinned, "Let me get the cuffs off you."

xxxxx

Gale walked in Serph's office with Argilla in tow calmly; his emotions now in check. So he had finally come to terms that their secret was out. Now, they had to face their comrades and their questions. And the fact that they had seen them in their…act was beyond the word "embarrassment". And seeing that it was beyond that word, there really wasn't any need to feel mortified. There really wasn't the need to prepare anyway.

'Why bother?' he asked himself, unfazed and uncaring, 'They had already seen everything of everything anyway.'

There was no need to prepare since there was nothing to defend.

After all, he had done nothing wrong. He had just been formulating possible training styles anyway.

And he had not forced anyone to do it with him either for that matter. Argilla had always been second to him as an Intelligence Officer. By the system of natural selection, she was easily the best candidate to assist him.

She didn't mind it either. And from the way that she had been responding to him, he would even dare to say that she was enjoying herself. Well, it was good…He had been enjoying himself as well. That was why they melded so well together anyway. They really genuinely enjoyed whatever it was they did together, whether it be training or "training".

He had always said that in order to be a good soldier, he or she must have a sound body, a sound heart and a sound mind.

Gale knew that although he wasn't overly in touch with his emotions the way Heat was, he also knew that he wasn't emotionally dead. He also believed that he wasn't clinically insane either. And by some unknown reason or sense of logic, Argilla had made him sound…in all three areas.

Their intimate time together had brought him a lot of insights, may it be about war and training or about human interaction in general. He had been able to feel things that weren't just plain camaraderie. He had actually been able to discover the word "desire". Desire for someone on a whole different level…

Like the way he desired her.

And the physical intimacy served as his physical training exercise; not that he was lacking it anyway…It was just an auxiliary exercise; a rather enjoyable one at that.

His attention was snapped back to reality as he heard Serph tell them to sit. They both did as they were told. He looked around and saw that they weren't alone. Heat and Cielo had been summoned as well.

The room was filled with silence. Gale was getting impatient. And so, he spoke first, "Serph. You called us here. Why?"

Argilla looked from Gale to Serph who had a faint tinge of pink on his cheeks. Serph cleared his throat, "Yes…well…I just…ugh…" he stammered.

"For Christ's sake Serph!" Heat yelled. Everyone turned their heads to look at Heat who had now stood with an angry albeit blushing face.

"We want to know your findings on the uh…current experiment." Serph finished, a blush creeping up his face.

Cielo grinned innocently, "Is that part of our training?!" he asked happily, jumping over to Gale's side and then gazing naughtily at Argilla, who, had given him a scolding look.

Gale rolled his eyes, "Unfortunately for you Cielo, no. What you had witnessed in my quarters would not be part of your training."

Cielo pouted, "Oh. Okay…"

Gale sighed; his teammates could be so childish at times. Didn't they realize that what transpired between him and Argilla was a result of intellectual intimacy that had taken another level? Didn't they understand that it was intimacy that was solely for the two of them?

And here they were; most especially Heat and Cielo, thinking that he was being selfish as if he was keeping food only to himself while everyone else was starving.

He cleared his throat and began his summary of the experiment, "Very well Serph. But I won't be explaining much to you all. Since you were all there up in the air duct, I would assume that you had heard all the explanation that I had given Argilla up to the point the three of you fell from there."

The three blushed. Cielo immediately went back to his seat, a bit disappointed.

Gale cleared his throat again, "The premise of the training exercise was to test a soldier's combat performance in the event of the absence of one or more of his or her senses. The result, as you all know," he drawled, narrowing his eyes a bit as looked intently at each of the three men's faces, "is poor performance. So,"

Here, the three men held their breaths. What did Gale plan to do now?

"I propose another program for training exercises be designed and implemented; one in which there is a handicap on the cadet's senses. That will hone the other senses to be more acute and more responsive."

Serph nodded as he carefully considered what Gale was saying. After a moment of silent deliberation, he opened his all-the-while closed eyes and looked at Gale seriously, "Aright. I grant it. But…"

"But?"

Serph looked at Cielo's hopeful eyes and then at Gale, "But I want it to be implemented only after the Trench System had been fully integrated. There are some who find the series of continuous training to be too strenuous. We, after all, want a unified, fully functional army, not a group of worn out old men and women."

Serph knew that Cielo would pour upon him complaints upon complaints upon complaints. In the end, Cielo would never let him leave until he relented. So, he'd rather save himself the trouble now rather than later.

Gale nodded, "I shall implement it afterwards. Also, the new handicap exercise coincides with the Trench System."

"How so?" Serph asked, his eyebrow arched.

Gale nodded, "Aside from the horizontal trenches, I've also ordered the digging of vertical trenches. These are called the listening posts. This is where we could put all of our mobile surveillance equipment. The trenches, as you all know are seven feet deep. It is impossible to see topside. That is why I had fire-steps installed, but even still, the visibility is relatively poor. The listening posts will enable us to listen in on the enemies on the other side of the trenches. So, basically, this is more like the training exercise Argilla and I were…practicing. We must work on our hearing abilities in the event that we lose our sight. Is there anything else?"

Serph looked from Cielo, who had a satisfied look on his facial expression to Heat who looked like he was unconvinced, "Heat? Is there anything that you'd want to ask?"

"Huh?"

Serph raised an eyebrow, "Anything at all?"

Blood rushed to his face, "Just one."

"Which is?" asked Gale nonchalantly, turning his head to look at him. Argilla, who had been silent throughout the entire discussion, glared at Heat.

Heat, in turn, looked at her, "Who is next to be at the front lines?"

Gale nodded, "I believe…it's yours and Argilla's turn. Two days and nights at guard and sentry duty within the trench frontlines."

Should he and Argilla had not had their talk before walking into Serph's office Gale may have felt a bit unpleasant at his own statement.

But like Argilla said, he shouldn't worry.

Serph didn't miss the look of appeasement within Heat's demeanor.

'Probably thinks he could get lucky with her.' Serph thought with a laugh. Oh well. But then, he had a feeling that Argilla wouldn't give him anything, much less show him anything. Why would she when she obviously had made up her mind and chose Gale?

'She obviously wants someone at par or rather, someone who had greater intellectual prowess than hers.' he thought knowingly. And it wasn't a secret that Heat would clearly fail in that department.

Well, it was Heat's problem. He was just going to have to grow up and accept it. And that'll be that.

Serph thought for a moment. Gale was calm. He wasn't angry or upset. Guilt and shame suddenly crept up from within Serph's spine and onto his nerves. They had unfairly suspected and judged their comrade. They had invaded his privacy. Not just his, but Argilla's as well.

And all for what?

All because of hearsay; circumstantial evidence.

"Gale," Serph began.

"Yes Serph?" Gale replied stoically, his emerald eyes as cool and calculating as before, as if no transgression on their parts had ever occurred.

Serph forced his eyes to look at Heat, then Cielo, and then lingering on Argilla's for but a moment before returning to his cool emerald pools, "On behalf of the team, I would like to extend my sincerest apologies."

Gale raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Argilla straightened her back, intent on listening to what would transpire next.

Serph sighed and looked at Argilla as well, "I apologize to you too Argilla. We had invaded your privacy."

Argilla blushed and turned away, not having the strength to gaze upon her leader any longer.

Serph looked at Gale once more, "We did not mean to invade your privacy Gale…We had just come to…"

"Investigate the obvious discrepancy that I had in the morning that I had distributed the new protocols. You suspected me to be in league with someone, possibly from the other tribes. Heat and Cielo had gone to you to ask for your aid, to which, their concerns had brought about your sympathy, thus getting you to monitor my movements. The discovery of Argilla, though, was unexpected. Is that all?"

Heat, Cielo and Serph were all taken aback.

"How did you…?"

"I wasn't blind to the open doubts that you had that morning. Cielo would probably complain about the training schedules…But he wouldn't go to Argilla. She would just convince him to endure it. Heat, on the other hand, had also heard my indiscretion of saying the word 'we' instead of 'I'. It was probable that the two would pool together for a common complaint, which they would launch to you since you have veto power. They will not come to me; neither will I tell them anything, nor would I change the protocols…"

He paused for a while, bringing his finger to touch his forehead before resuming his talk, "So, they came to you. But it wasn't Cielo's plea that convinced you. Cielo had the tendency to whine about his complaints, dramatizing it unnecessarily. You, like Argilla would just tell him to endure it. But Heat, who is the most skeptic, would stress to you the indiscretion I had that morning. The 'we' and 'I' issue. He most probably insinuated that I have ties to different tribes. It was then, realizing the potential threat, that you had capitulated and decided to investigate me."

He sighed once more, "You all just didn't expect to see Argilla though."

Heat blinked; ashamed of himself. He really couldn't believe that he was that easy to read. Cielo blushed; he never knew he was that childish. How embarrassing.

Gale then shook his head, "It's alright Serph. I understand your concern. I understand why you decided to have me investigated. Defection is something that we cannot afford. But…since you had already found what you were looking for," he said, narrowing his eyes a bit, "I hope that you and the others would give me and Argilla the benefit of the doubt next time."

Serph blushed and nodded. He couldn't think of any words to say…He was mortified beyond belief.

After a moment of silence, Serph then stood, "Okay people, you have your orders, dismissed."

Cielo stood up, scratching his head. He looked at Gale with a sheepish smile, "Sorry brudda." He then turned his attention to Argilla, "Sorry…" He quickly cast his head down; he couldn't bear to look at her now…Most especially when blood was rushing back to his face!

Heat looked at Gale for a split-second before glaring at Argilla, who in turn glared back at him, muttering a "sorry" under his breath.

Then, continuing to glower at one another, Heat and Argilla left, along with Cielo. Gale looked on after her and she looked at him back with a smile on her face, winking at him suggestively before turning the other way, walking out.

Serph chuckled; Gale may be cold and unfeeling most of the times, but there were times that he could be really showy of his feelings. Like now. He had seen the silent speech between the two. It was definitely an "I'll see you later, Lover." sort of silent interaction.

Their comrade was just a bit more eccentric than your average silent and brooding type of guy, and Serph was happy that he finally found a person that could relate to him, at least on the intelligence scale, that is.

Gale stood up the last and there, he gave the files that he had been holding to Serph, "Here are the additional data on the report if you need to know more."

Serph nodded and held the file and watched Gale as he began to walk out of the room.

Suddenly, another question popped with Serph's head, "Gale?"

"Yes Serph." Gale replied, turning back to look at his leader who had a puzzled look on his face, "What is it?"

A blush began to form on his cheeks, "Er, how did you formulate the plan for the Trench System?"

Gale grinned at him, "Playing hide and seek in the rain."

"Aa…" Serph nodded in understanding.

Gale nodded and sensing that there was nothing else that Serph was going to ask, resumed his walk and exited his office.

Serph chuckled long after he was gone, "Hide and seek eh?" He was impressed though. Gale was a genius. His ideas and imagination knew no bounds.

And the fact that he was able to piece together the parts of the scenario that led to them prying within the air ducts without so much as a hint or any data to precede it was something that was extraordinary.

That was why he was branded as the brains of their army after all.

xxxxx

FIN

xxxxx

A/N:

Fire-steps: A step along the parapet so that soldiers within the trench could open fire and shoot. The fire-step is usually about 2 to 3 feet high.