A/N: Yikes, it really has been a long time hasn't it? I apologize most profusely...but unfortunately, I'm the kind of person who gets easily distracted. I'm in the middle of one story and suddenly and idea comes to me and I'm off on another one…it's hard that way…since I usually don't finish anything except one-shots. XDD

Disclaimer: Where was I when star ocean ownership was handed out? Somewhere else, unfortunately….

There were very few sane people on the ship. Cliff was one of them, which didn't say very much. Just because he was sane, it didn't keep him from being unable to handle the situation.

"Mirage! Get over here! I need your help!"

Mirage giggled and held Roger tightly. "Aw, not now Cliff. Roger and I are busy." She kissed Roger's cheek affectionately and held out a yellow ball for him to play with.

Cliff groaned in frustration. "I am doing this all on my own, aren't I?"

"Meteor!" Maria shrieked, launching herself at Cliff.

"Aaargh! Someone keep her busy. Adray, can you hold her down a few minutes?"

But Adray was already busy. He was carefully stalking Alex the ninja, who was perched high up on one of the walls.

Nel was chasing after Fayt, smacking him with one of her poetry books. "The maiden scorned, true love was burned!" she shrieked. "The sins of death, the boy has earned."

Fayt put up a hand to shield himself. "Oh, come on. It was just a kiss, Nel. I didn't mean any harm."

Albel did not like all the chaos at all. He shuddered and hugged his knees up against his chest. He was nearly trampled a few times by the people running to and fro around the ship so at last he decided to crawl into a large box nearby.

"This will do perfectly!" Albel shouted, picking up the box and hurling it at Alex. Alex vanished and dust showered down on the people nearby, causing them to cough.

As the dust cleared, a smile pile of dirt sat in the corner, with a note on top. Albel picked it up and read it. "'Haha, you missed. By the way, this floor is awfully dirty. You should clean it.'"

Adray purpled with rage. "Okay, where is that scoundrel? I'll teach him not to insult me!"

A slight rustling overhead caught Adray's attention. He looked up just in time to see Alex leaping down on top of him and kicking him in the face. Adray fell to the ground.

Alex calmly walked away and Cliff smirked at the note stuck to Adray's forehead. "'You've been pwned by the Note Ninja.' Note Ninja? What's he supposed to do, write us threatening letters?"

A delicate cough caught his attention. He looked down. The floor was covered in a se of sticky notes. "I'm not cleaning this up!" Cliff shouted.

A disoriented Albel crawled out of the box and hid in a corner. Roger came over and stared at Albel. "Go away!" Albel pleaded. "Don't hurt me."

Roger sniffled, sad that Albel wouldn't be his friend. Mirage smacked Albel hard across the cheek. "How dare you hurt his feelings!"

Albel began to sob and Mirage softened. "There, there. Don't cry. You and Roger can be friends. Omg, I know the perfect thing for you to wear, Albel!" She burst out into a high-pitched shriek.

Albel ran as far from her as he possibly could.

Maria thoughtfully examined the empty box lying on the ground. "Rawr, me too!" She shouted, hurling the box at the control panel.

A loud beep instantly quieted the chaos.

"Maria, what did you just do?" Cliff asked slowly.

Maria giggled. "Threw a box. Button go boom!"

Cliff growled in frustration. "Damn it, didn't I tell you not to do that?"

'Never said anything about boxes," Maria said cheerfully.

"No didn't I tell you to leave that button alone?"

"That was the other you."

Cliff sighed heavily and everyone braced themselves for what was to come.

Fayt walked down the dusty desert road. He was wearing jeans, a light flannel shirt and sturdy work boots. He had lost his hat somewhere back down the trail, but that couldn't be helped. Feeling eyes upon him, Fayt lowly turned his head.

Another cowboy was watching him from atop the ridge nearby. The stranger wore a purple vest, faded blue jeans and a pair of dark purple boots. Fayt had the distinct feeling of being unwelcome in the strange stare with burning crimson eyes. But before he could hurry on, the stranger called a greeting to him.

"Howdy there, runt. Whatcha doin' up in these parts?"

Fayt stopped and stared at the man sitting on the huge boulder. The stranger tipped his hat to him politely.

"Just passin' through," Fayt answered calmly.

The man spat in the dirt next to the rock and began cleaning his shotgun. "Well, you just be careful out yonder, runt. There ain't much the law can do about them outlaws. You're liable to get shot if you ain't careful." He cocked his shotgun for emphasis.

"Thank you kindly, stranger." Fayt went to tips his hat, but remembered he no longer had one.

The man guffawed and hopped off his rock. "See here, runt. You already ain't prepared. Lemme take you home and the missus will see about gettin' you a new hat."

Fayt walked in silence along this strange cowboy, whom he knew he could trust to his word even though they had only known each pother a short time.

The man barged into the little shack off to one side of the trail confidently. "Bless my boots, woman. I'm home again!"

A loud curse sounded from the back room. The man grinned. "My gal sure as shootin' loves me."

A tough, wiry redhead rushed in from the other room, wearing a billowing skirt over pair of jeans and a short sleeved patched shirt. She stopped short and glared at Fayt. "And who's this mite?"

The man grinned. "This here is a man I met along the trail. Don't know his name and he don't know mine." He winked at Fayt. "This here's my little lady."

"It ain't safe!' the woman said hotly. "He could be a robber for all we knows."

"Just calm yerself, Nelly," Albel intoned. He glanced at Fayt. "The name's Albel Nox. I'm one o' the fastest gunman in these parts, so don't bother crossin' me, understood?"

Fayt nodded.

Albel grinned. "See, Nelly? Nothing to worry 'bout."

As if waking from a dream, the inhabitants of the ship realized where they were. Nel shot Albel a murderous glance, poised with her book of poetry, ready to strike if Albel made a move on her.

Albel crawled under a table. "Why me?" he whimpered. "Why is it always me?"