Daniel had to sit down. No more. Just no more dancing to this god awful music! Sandy rushed to the table and plopped down on the chair, obviously exhausted herself as she was out of breath.
"Wow! I'm surprised I lasted this long! I must be excited about the tournament."
Daniel could only nod as he took a long draught from the glass of ice water on the ballroom table. It only took them fifteen minutes to get to the airship. From there it was about a three hour flight to Gold Saucer, where the company had arranged rooms for them. ShinRa was always like this, they treated those who represented them with respect, but if you are to lose or after a time has passed, well Daniel didn't even want to think of what would happen if she were to lose miserably. After all any associate of ShinRa that embarrasses their company never lasts too long. Daniel sat back in his chair, pondering the repercussions of Sandy's career as a SOLDIER when Elena and her big sister walked up tot the table. He took notice, pulling him away from his little world inside of his head when Sandy let out a shrill squeal.
"Oh my god! You were able to make it!"
Sandy embraced Emily and kissed both sides of her cheek. This was supposedly something that nobility did to each other when they met. Daniel knew he would be caught dead before he would kiss another mans cheeks.
"Well it took a bit of pressure, but I was finally able to convince Tseng to talk to Verdot and I got the time off."
Daniel about gagged as Sandy jumped up slightly, gripping Emily's hand. He was a rather attractive woman, she had the same bob cut that Sandy had a bit longer and her hair was a bright golden blond. Her body was no joke either, a walking piece of eye candy to be sure. She, like everyone else was wearing a formal black dress. She kept a serious attitude on her face though, and if it wasn't for the fact that she was a complete work-a-holic and rather serious person, he might actually consider dating her instead of Sandy.
"And you made it too?"
Sandy had turned her attention as Daniel reluctantly exchanged pleasantries with Emily, smiling slightly and listening to her boring stories of work. Well he thought they were boring but the other guys who ever so discreetly positioned themselves around her to eavesdrop apparently found them interesting.
"Yeah," Elena said with a smile. "Getting out of schools far less stressful than getting a day off with the Turks." Elena looked at Emily with a sneer.
"Yes but you don't have as many responsibilities in high school, Elena. Maybe one day you'll perform better and make it into the Turks." Emily returned her little sisters glare.
Daniel and Sandy looked at both of the two, trying to 'politely' argue in front of each other. They knew what was about to happen and knew that if not separated soon, things would get very interesting around their table. Sandy stepped in and took Emily's hand and started pulling her away.
"Of course she will make a fine Turk, Emily. Come over here I have some friends I would like you to meet."
As if she really had a choice, Emily followed Sandy to a group of other important political figures. Daniel sat back down at the table and waved his hand for the waiter to come. He rushed by, expertly dodging swung arms, drunken stumbles and a flat out stray dancing couple; the waiter had arrived with the pompous servant look on his face.
"Yeeeeeessss Sir. What can I do for you?" He stated in a low and respectful voice as he bowed slightly.
"Uh, some crackers if you have em. And for god's sake no fish eggs on them this time! And, um, oh yeah! A Spartan long neck!"
Elena laughed a bit as she relaxed at the table. She was a bit more boyish than most girls her age, but she could toss back with the best of them as well. Not to mention her filthy sailors mouth. He enjoyed Elena's company, not for her good looks, which was always a plus to him, but for her ravish personality. She was still wearing her seifuku, but instead of her hair being down, she tied it up in a bun behind her head.
"Ex-cuse me surrrr, but we do not serve second rate beer here. Only the finest wines and ales fit for the president himself."
Elena mocked the waiter by presenting Daniel with an 'ooohhh' look. No one, and that means no one, insults Daniels favorite beer.
"What?! Are you calling Spartan Ale second rate? I outta string you up and hang you by that towel! Whatever just give me what ever then. Elena what do you want?"
The waiter gulped as he took down the order for oyster crackers and a large mug of ShinRa Select.
"I just want Saki and a shrimp cocktail."
"Ex-cuse me miss, but we do not serve alcohol to…"
Daniel sighed as he folded up a one hundred gil bill and tucked it into his apron.
"Forgive my rudeness, Sir and Madam. I had no idea you were turning twenty today."
Daniel grinned as he patted the bill.
"Now about our orders?"
"Yes sir, I'm afraid that the main bar is far to busy to serve you, so I must break into the reserve and present you with the same that is served to the guests of honor. If you will ex-cuse me."
The waiter bowed, keeping the same snide look on his face and walked away. Elena and Daniel laughed.
"I seriously thought you were going to hang him out to dry! I would have at least wanted to take a couple of shots at him."
Daniel smiled as he cracked his knuckles, tossing them behind his head as he relaxed his feet on the table.
"Yep! Spartan may be cheap, but its by no means second rate. They serve it at Seventh Heaven you know, sells fast there."
Elena perked up as the waiter returned with their orders.
"Wait you've been down in the slums in Midgar? I've always wanted to go to wall market but I've been kept busy with school."
"Wall Market isn't anything spectacular, other than the Honey Bee Inn and Corenos mansion."
Elena and Daniel took a long quaff from their mugs, slamming them down in unison and wiping their mouths with their arms, ending the symphony of old man behavior by letting out a large belch each.
"So have you ever gone to Honey Bee Inn?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yeah, a couple of times. I usually only go down there when the Don wants us to pull guard duty for his fashion shows."
Elena looked shocked as she monstrously ripped a cooked shrimp from its tail.
"You guys do that? I though you were just soldiers."
Daniel shook his head.
"No. Sometimes we get nothing better to do and instead of the company wasting money having us sit around, they put us to work now and again. From what I heard, it's not cheap, but somehow the Don can afford it."
Sandy returned with Emily and a few other individuals, she kicked his legs off the table discreetly, shooting him a look that would turn a black cat white.
"Daniel, Elena, I want you to meet the newest member of the platoon, Zack."
The man stepped up. He was younger than he was, and wore a look on his face that seemed to scream 'I'm up to something', but he looked very strong and level headed. His hair was a slicked back, spiky black, with one large strand hanging over his right eye. He was still wearing the uniform and he could tell by the look in his eyes, and the glow, that he had just become a SOLDIER recently. Daniel was always one to welcome new comers into the platoon and greeted him warmly.
"Hey! Welcome to the platoon!"
Zack scratched the back of his head, and then extended his gloved hand shyly.
"Heh, thanks."
Daniel kicked a chair out for Zack to sit on. Sandy and Emily took a seat by each other and engaged in their own girl talks while Elena butted in, trying to out do her sister with great feats, and acts of responsibility.
"My names Daniel Moscow, I'm the platoons marksman instructor."
Zack smiled.
"Are you a first class as well?"
Daniel laughed, tossing a few crackers in his mouth.
"Of course! You can't be a trainer unless you are. So when did you get roped into the service?"
Zack looked down.
"a little over a year ago."
Daniel blew out all of his oyster crackers on the table.
"Pffffttttt….One year?! And your already first class?! Hell, it took Sandy at least six months after school to get her first, but getting it straight out of training?!"
Zack was obviously embarrassed as Sandy and Emily broke their contact and stared at him. Elena just held her hands out to the sides as she felt disgusted with the chewed up oyster crackers blown all over her outfit.
"Is that something so prestigious? I've heard of others…"
Sandy, who was also taken by shock from Zack's words, spoke up in place of Daniel, who was apologizing to Elena.
"No, there isn't anyone else besides Him. They'll tell you that in training to make you think that everyone can do it. The only one that's ever gotten first class straight out of training is…"
A soft yet commanding voice spoke up behind her. It was a sexy slightly deep voice that demanded respect.
"Aww, Sandy, are you talking about me again?"
Sandy spun around and as a reflex action, swung her fist out as well from the surprise. This caught the tall handsome man in the chin and he stumbled backwards, gripping his nose with his glossy black leather gloves. His platinum hair finally twirled away and she could see his eyes.
"Sephy! Oh I'm so sorry are you alright?"
"Oh I'm quite alright; I don't remember you being mad at me though."
Sephiroth sounded a little stuffed up. Sandy probably broke his nose, but there was no blood or anything, so now one took any notice. After all this was the famed Sephiroth, how would the tabloids take him, the invincible SOLDIER, running away from a dinner party from a broken nose?
Daniel stood up and laughed as he gripped Sephiroth's hand in a warm greeting, then hugged each other.
"You're late." Daniel said with a grin.
"I'm sorry. I just had other responsibilities that needed to be taken care of first."
The two stepped away, and Sandy pulled up another char from the adjacent table for Sephiroth to sit in.
"And would one of those responsibilities be running to the Honey Bee Inn?"
Sephiroth frowned as the others laughed.
"It was only a picture signing. I was requested by the company to make an appearance there for a couple of hours to shake hands and sign pictures. I left as soon as my contract time was over."
Daniel laughed as the waiter brought the table another round of beers.
"So the sexy women there had nothing to do with it?"
Sephiroth tossed back the mug and slammed it down, much like Elena and Sandy did. He chuckled a bit before shaking his head.
"No, you know how I am."
Daniel nodded, not even looking at him. He knew full well how Sephiroth was, shifty eyes, beautiful skin and hair. Sometimes he thought he looked like a really tall woman rather than the original SOLDIER. He didn't like women all that much and was never interested in courting. He would never admit it, but Daniel could swear up and down that he looked at men, much the same way he looked at women. He didn't feel that this was wrong for him to be gay, but he could never confirm it, or would he dare to even ask. He still remembered how much depression he sunk into after he convinced Sephiroth to explain his childhood before the two of them met.
Sephiroth had short hair as a child, next to Daniel's long blond hair which forced him to endure many instructors' taunts of asking his gender. He knew of all the horrors he had to endure, as during the test phase of the SOLDIER program, he was one of the 'subjects' along side Sephiroth. It was only because he was a descendent of the Cetra warrior clan from well over two thousand years ago. Doctor usually called the pair 'his little Guiney pigs'. He only knew of it when he turned twelve and was recruited by Tseng during a diplomatic meeting by ShinRa in the town of Mideel in order to try and secure a reactor in that area. He remembered Hojo's un-earthly experiments but later on in life learned to deal with them as just a scar in his and Sephiroth's past. But one thing bothered him. He knew why he was put into the experiments, because he was the descendant of a Cetra that survived the Jenova calamity, yet Sephiroth claimed that his mothers name was Jenova.
"Hey Seph, I gotta question to ask you…"
Right as Daniel was about to ask the question, the airship, Cerberus, lurched violently, sending everyone to the floor. Sephiroth reached for his sword hilt while Daniel perched himself on the table, both pistols drawn. Sandy was tying off the left side of her formal skirt and stretched her gloves out. Elena and Emily were both still on the floor as Zack tried to help them to their feet.
"All guards report to the forward deck on the double!!! Were being att-"
The intercom suddenly turned to static and was subsequently turned off. There was another loud crash as the ShinRa grunts and officers ran towards the political officials, trying to calm and reassure them of their safety, which in their heads none of them really knew if they were telling the truth or not. Without thinking, Sephiroth, Daniel and Sandy ran towards the exit sign labeled 'Sky Balcony'. As soon as Daniel turned the corner from the stairs, he fell to his knees just as a bullet had rushed past his face. He pointed both pistols at his attacker and sneered. There was a group of lackeys, each with a rifle in their hands. They were all lead by a single man with a bandana on his head. As Sandy and Sephiroth caught up and stood on either side of them, they all took fighting stances. Sandy studied his face carefully.
"Its AVALANCHE!!"
"Are you sure?" Sephiroth asked, watching the other lackeys place explosives all along the front of the airship.
"Positive. That's their second in command, Sears!"
Hearing his name the man turned around and faced the trio. He only grinned then jumped off the deck onto the waiting hovercraft below.
The three winced as the entire crew of lackeys surrounded them. Sephiroth stood resolute, none coming within reach of his massive Nodachi, Sandy growled with her fists at her side, eyes darting left and right challenging someone to come forward. Daniel had both pistols aimed at different targets, grinning slightly as was his style when he felt overconfident.
"We have to disable those bombs." Sandy glanced at the sticks of dynamite all wired to a digital clock. It was counting down fast from ten minutes.
"We're not going to get to them all in time if we have to deal with these guys." Sephiroth planted his feet into the wooden deck to give him a better charging edge, as both Sandy and he knew that it would be Daniel and his lack of patience that would ultimately start this fight.
After a moment passed, Daniel extended the knives that were hidden just above the barrel of his pistols.
"LET'S ROCK!!!!"
Daniel leapt into the air, preparing to come down on a surprised Lackey, as Sephiroth and Sandy dashed in their directions to engage the enemy, each screaming their own battle cry.
NOTE
Emily is actually a real character as Elena's older sister, but in the game "Before Crisis", she is without a default name, so I just named her what I named her in the game. She is the short haired blond woman that was a playable near the beginning.