[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Fargo turned, "The Sage is busy..." examining the man as a smirk took hold on his face, "...Porre Military. Don't recognise the mark, though, what business would YOU want with the Sage? He's a pretty popular figure lately it seems." Walking past Nikki, and Miki as he spoke, "First Irenes askes, then Nikki, and now you two. Maybe I should give the Sage a show..." He paused as he passed Janice, "And are you with them too? Or are ya goin ta gripe me for not sending enough people with a pass into the Grand Slam." He looked amongst them.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Norris' eyes narrowed at how lightly the sailor was taking them. "I simply felt like being polite. I simply need to speak with him. Surely you can understa..."

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

"What I understand, is that you Lubbers are wanting to dig up ghosts that should remain buried." He gave a stern look. Then relaxed once more, "Ov course...I'm a fair man, how about we make a wager. Unless yer not man enough to be a gambling man." He gave a light wink to Janice, knowing well that she knew the drill that would follow. Knowing at best this would test her loyalty and if she was up on helping him dupe them.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Janice opens her mouth as if to speak but notices that he seems to have just about summed it up himself. "Basically...rather, exactly." she replies, semi-impressed that he had actually taken notice.

Janice grins and nods in excited approval. "Wee~ excellent idea, Captain!" she beams as she hops up and down in place. She then turns to Norris, "If you can walk out of my Grand Slam victoriously then I'll point you to the Sage myself." she offers slyly. "So, what do you say?"

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Luccia looked at Norris a moment, then nodded curtly and stepping inside of the office. "Danke you." She gave little show of any emotion, calmly standing with her hands folded in front of her.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Fargo smiled widely at Janice's eagerness to take them for all they're worth. "O'course, ...ya could always chicken out and run back ta Porre with yer tail between yer legs just like any other lubber." his eyes and Norris' met in a glaring gaze.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

"I have no money..." Norris spoke calmly, "however, I do still have my boat." He lifted the keys to the motor, dangling them between him and Fargo.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Fargo gave a grin.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Norris nodded and followed her into the office. Looking around as he surveyed the area, "Where ARE they...?" Moving nimbly around the room he listened closely to the light murmurs in the next room over.

Wondering to himself where the General had gone, and more importantly, why he would ally himself with someone such as Sir Lynx.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

"It's too still." Leena remarked. The office light was on. Leena removed her helmet and gently pressed herself against the door. The people weren't speaking loudly, but she heard something mentioned about a flame. "Norris, is Mr. Lynx after some kind of flame or fire?"

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Norris leaned against the wall, taking his helmet off as his gold hair fell out taking its normal place, "..." he thought to himself for a moment recalling all he had heard amongst the rumors. "The Frozen Flame...it's only a legend. I knew that the higher-ups in the Porre military had made a truce with Sir Lynx 4 years ago, he was looking for an ancient artifact, but I had no idea. Could it really exist?" He stared deeply into the crystaline blue orb sitting on Viper's desk, "It's been said that Sir Lynx is a formidable informant, almost as if he knows what's yet to come. The information is what he gave in exchange for the muscle we've just replaced." He watched the orb as an inner gleam caught his eye. "What is this?" he asked to himself, leaning foreward as he approached it entranced.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

A gruff voice cleared its throat. Zappa entered the room, handing glares out as he did so. "Mr. Soldier," he grunted to Norris, "I be gettin' verra impatient. This had better be important, or I'll take yer ship meself an' sail on me own. I hae a wife an' a job, an' I didna come teh be held up by one o' ye Porre fellows tha' wants teh catch up wi' th' latest gossip, ye ken tha'?"

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

"De frozen flame, I've heard much of it. It is a popular rumor, and many have searched for it to no avail." She waved a hand in dismissal, "Dat Sir Lynx is searching for it may foretell its importance." She turned to look at whatever Norris had found, adjusting her glasses.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

"Give him another second or two, Mister." she says to Zappa, tapping a foot warningly. "He is trying to decide whether seeing the illusive Sage is worth the risk of getting his butt kicked or not." she sneers, a brimming grin never having left her face.

"That boat of his should be quite acceptable to wager under our terms, right Captain?" Janice says as she thwaps a carrot against her upper arm, still waiting for the response from Norris. Having an extra boat around here WOULD mean that I'd probably be able to sneak a few extra trips off this god forsaken ship, after all. Meet more interesting and powerful monsters... Ahhh, the possibilities!~ she notes to herself, taking care not to say any of this aloud.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

"Sir Zappa, from the knowledge I gathered, I can assure you we need someone who knows the way into the dead sea. Your son and the rest of the Acacian army are inside. If you wish to help your son, you'll let me do what needs be done." With that he dropped his keys into his open palm. "I accept your challenge. Fargo."

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Fargo grinned widely at the thought of a new military class boat...if nothing else it would fetch a good price. "Good choice, ya got guts..." he turned to Janice, "Give'em the 1-2-3 special and come back when yer done. We can always let him wager more to win it back."

With that said he turned, looking out the window. Looking to Miki and Nikki out of the corner of his eyes, "The concert's not until tonight...there something wrong?"

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Norris turned to Janice, "Lead the way..."

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

The Dragon's tear shimmered in both their eyes...seeming to protray to each of them a breef flash of a life the for them, might have been... Norris' eyes widened, "wh-what IS that..." he asked as he stammered out of the trance.

Norris went silent as he noted that the murmurs in the back room had ceased. "Oh my...I think they heard us." he spoke in a barely audible voice to the girls. Placing his helmet on once more as he motioned for Leena to do the same...

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Leena nodded, and quickly put on the helmet. Her identity was safe, for now. Staring at the orb for a second, she shook her head to snap herself out of it's trance.

"I heard them discussing it. He called it the Dragon's Tear. I heard rumors of such an artifact that was supposed to be in Guldove, why does he have it?"

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Zappa snorted. "Why did ye no' tell me that this were important, ya boggin?" The last two words were muttered under his breath. He followed Janice's lead, as well, refusing to let Norris out of his sight, as Norris was one person he most certainly did not want to lose track of.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

"Got 'cha." Janice nods to Fargo.

She turns to make her way out of the Captain's quarters. "This way. If any of your 'friends' here are gonna watch your downfall, they'd better come now. They likely won't be able to talk their way past the guard located near the hallways to the GrandSlam." she points out, not pausing to see which of them follow.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Luccia drug her gaze away from the sparkling Dragon's Tear and stood up straight, placing her hands on her hips and glancing from Norris to Leena. She'd, of course, heard of the Dragon's Tear, and she would have died to inspect it further, but of course that wasn't a possibility at the moment.

Briefly she wondered what she would say if General Viper and his cat-friend tromped in, but shoved that thought into the back of her head. She wouldn't worry about that yet.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Norris hoisted the orb from its holding, "Incredibly light...I wonder if this is why we were sent to escort you here." He glanced to Luccia, hoping she'd take the cue, while he stared amongst the scattered papers that lay disheveled on the General's desk. Looking amongst the papers as he scanned, hoping the two ladies would keep the monologue going, to aid their cover.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Norris nodded to Zappa, as he followed Janice he looked to Miki lipping the words 'Follow Me' as he went. Nodding his head to follow he moved on, whispering to Zappa in Zenan code. He knew well that he would understand him.

**translated** "I am certain they will trick us into losing. These people don't seem the types to leave the games unrigged. However, I'm certain once we're stranded here, the Captain with allow us to traverse the decks freely. Once that is possible we'll be free to search. Once we find what we need, we'll level the playing feild. Do you understand the plan, Sir Zappa?"

Smiling he looked behind them hoping Miki had joined their line, "Don't worry...I have a plan." He gave a wink and a confident grin. He was not an elite member of the Porre Black Wind team for nothing.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

"I yes, dey vanted me to study it for dem," she tilted her head back a little. "It is a very curious artifact, and dey vanted me to find out any special properties dat it may have." She chattered, quite uncharacteristically, to keep their cover.