[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Norris smiled as he took the keys, tucking the original back into his pocket he help the copy conceiled motioning to Miki to come over to him for a moment.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Leena only smiled as Luccia led the way back to her lab. The diguises worked, the group passed a couple of guards without being stopped. Luccia hid the Dragon Tear well. In the lab, Luccia immdeatly got to work. "So, Norris, tell me a little about yourself."

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Norris snapped out of his vacant stare of rememberance as Leena's voice chimed into his ears interupting his mulling over his memories. Norris looked to Leena, "What would you like to know?" He asked giving a sigh as he took off the helmet his still seemingly numb over his recollection of old memories he thought he'd buried. The cold metal of the key he kept beneath his shirt seeming to twinge against him.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

"Well, anything. Why did you join the army? Why are you here?" Leena said, smiling as she removed her own helmet.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Luccia looked at the dragon tear for a long time before making a soft "mmm hmmm" sound. She went about measuring it, then placed it under a microscope. She did several other tests as well, writing figures down as she went. This would be a difficult task, none-th- less.

She began to gather ingrediants, picking out things that would compliment the color, opacity, texture, lustre, and other various elements that made up the dragon tear. She also began to construct a molding device. First she placed the tear in impressionable clay, then put that in an over until it was hard. She mixed her ingrediants and poured these into the makeshift mold. This, next, went back into the oven.

Nearly an hour later Luccia took the mold from the fire and broke it, revealing her copy of the dragon's tear. She frowned at it, then began to buff it so that it'd shine. By the time she was done it sparkled brilliantly. She placed it next to the original. Despite it's beauty it was much like cubic zirconium when compared to the original.

"Norris. . Kom and look. I tink dis vill do nicely, dough I vould not trust it to hold up under klose inspection."

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Norris looked to Leena, "I was sent to infiltrate the Acacia dragoons, in a week a staged front was to occur in which I would play hero, in a sense...and therein, begin a more notable carrier, hopefully taking a position as a fellow Deva to fill the absense of Sir Dario. However, with the possibilty of Lynx seeking the Frozen Flame for himself it would make my plans null. That's why I've negotiated my cover to put a small hamper in Sir Lynx's plans. In truth this is a completely internal affair, General Viper himself being a military chancelor and pre-etorate of the Porre motherland. My sole job is to ensure security." He paused thinking of her other questions, "I became a soldier becau..." he found himself interupted as Luccia completed her facsimile.

Walking over to inspect it. "At a glance...they won't notice, with your use of elements it should even give off a similar power gradient, in comparison to the original." Pulling out a small scope and placing it over his eye, "I am truely impressed. 93.27% gradient compatability." He smiled, nodding as he picked up the facsimily setting it down as he felt something wrong, its temperature...the true tear was always cooler in temperature. Taking some ice he packed it around the copy. Tumbling it in the ice to add the final touch and minor deformities that gave the true one its luster. Once it was cooled he scooped it up, placing his helmet on once more. Looking to Luccia, "Lady Leena and I will take this back while you run the tests you feel need be run." With that he headed to the door.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

"It looks nice." Leena commented. Luccia would starting a few tests while the other two donned their helmets.

"I'm just a simple girl. I cook, clean, watch little kids, ectera. I came to Termina to do some shopping, and felt something wrong with Viper Manor, and here I am. I've heard little about the Frozen Flame. My father, Miguel, took my friend Serge, we were around 3 at the time, and his father Wazuki, to Marbule, but a storm steered them into the Sea of Eden. Serge was suffering from a panther bite, and the Flame cured him, but otherwise I'm not sure what it is.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Luccia nodded to the both of them and turned to begin expiriments on the Dragon's Tear. She already had it's measurements, density, lustre, et cetera, because she'd had to study it closely to make a replica. Now she measured the exact temperature, it's effect on certain elements, and other various stuff.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Norris smiled as he looked through the eyeholes of the black polimer helmet, the edge of it resting on his nose, "I'm certain you are quite good at what you do, perhapse if the chance arises I'll even try some of your cooking. I make a pretty good White Dodo Sukiyaki...though few truly know about it." Adjusting the back of his helmet as he finished the last adjustments.

Looking to her as he turned the door's handle, "That is, if this Serge of yours doesn't mind."

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Leena blushed again, this time, it was hidden from her helmet. "Oh, Serge wasn't around. He was dead for 10 years, even though I could swear an older version of him was running around, with some strange girl with a thick, foreign accent and a mouthful of attitude. I think she plans to do something with Serge, I think she's using him. Maybe to reach this tear? Or the Frozen Flame that Lynx mentioned? I don't know. The way I see it, we have two options, either get Serge away from Kid, or beat them to the Flame. Now that we have the Tear, that end is accomplished. What do you think?"

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

"True...True...So your Serge's ghost has come to the manor, I see." He chuckled at the thought, himself not believing in superstitions such as ghosts. "I'm sure there's a legitimate explanation. Though I'm quite certain this tear is worth quite a bit...perhapse she's in it for the money. I say leave the lad, if he's beaten death, I'm sure the wyles of a young female brigand are no problem for him." Glancing over lightly, "That suit fits you well...the deep indigo, and silver suit you." Holding open the door with his free hand as he waited for her to enter before him. Watching a pair of dragoons pass in the hall, patrolling and talking amongst themselves.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

She reluctantly motions for her assistant to show Norris to her proper stock of creatures. "Fine, be my GUEST. Human." Janice concludes with a growl and the most sincere fake smile that she can possibly muster up. "Pick whichever three you like." she continues thru gritted teeth as she waves her hand passively for Norris to get moving before she decides to kick his ass herself.

Assured that the humans in question are preoccupied a few feet away near the 'other' cages, she returns a glance to Fargo and whispers with a grin, "Excellent plan, Captain. Sometimes I forget how truly skilled you are at swindling people!"

She motions for him to follow as she hops across the room to an area behind her platform. There she opens an old trunk and carefully pulls out a funny shaped umbrella-looking instrument along with a large bright yellow costume that almost seems to resemble a bird. "You were a Beeba." she grins with a definate hint of amusement. "Now, go change before any of those pesky people get suspicious, Beeba-Captain."

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Fargo gave a disturbed look, "You're... ...sure...?" Seeing no sign of bluff on her face he gave a sigh and with a shake of his head walked back to change. After a moment's time he and the blacksmith came out in their respective costumes. "I beeba ready...argh...er, I mean Beeba." grumbling to himself as he entered the cage for her to select him, "Why me?"

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Norris began looking nonchalantly through the selection of monsters. Not really paying them much mind as he decided to hide the spare himself since Miki had not been very responsive.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Janice returned to the cages, using every fiber of her being to keep from laughing at Fargo's appearance. This ploy would not be blown on the count of her, that was for certain. "Yosh! I'll be utilizing the Beeba, Catowary, and for the sport of it...Fargo's dear Polly. He hasn't gotten much exercise in long while, poor thing." She keeps a steady eye on Norris, daring him to question her.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Norris had been typing away on a small device from his pocket before putting it away and looking up as he was addressed. "Alright, I'll utilize that Sidestepper, the Tragedine, and ..." he scoured the cages for his final selection, "And your Roborg..."

Norris took his three and led them to their corner of the ring. To give them their initial instructions.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

A sweatdrop appeared over Beeba-Fargo's head, and the fake Casowary's as well...The Sidestepper and the Tragedine could prove a bit of a problem. The Beeba's head whipped towards Janice in surprise, whispering towards her, "Since when did YOU get these level o'monsters!?"

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

"How about that." Janice laughed nervously to Fargo as she rubbed the back of her neck and found something very interesting to look at on her shoes. "Could've sworn I moved those into the cages in the back since I don't really use them for show." she replied. "Go figure."

Janice glared at Norris from behind as he prepared the monsters he had chosen. "Dammit." she growled to herself, biting the tip of her lower lip nervously, "I really didn't want Fargo to catch onto the fact that I've mastered training monsters of that calibur yet. That human's gonna pay." she thinks to herself, taking the her two combatants to the ring and motioning for someone to bring in Polly.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Fargo waddled out into the arena grounds, half-dragging the fake cassowary. "Argh--erBeeba...this'll take alot..." he said.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Norris hopped down next to the monsters he had chosen, getting the attention of the two he knew understood and could communicate his words. Once he had the Tragedine and the Roborg aside he spoke to them, "Now listen to me...give a good show, and bandstand all you want. But I want THEM to win understood?"

The Roborg and Tragedine looked amongst themselves as they moved back towards the Sidestepper, "Seems a bit od to me, Clarice...bibi-babi..." The Roborg spoke down to his companion.

Clarice the Tragedine gave a sigh, "Well, we know Miss Janice will be happy, but why does he not wanna win?" They both gave a sweatdrop as they prepaired for the fight.

[S.S. Zelbess, Home World]

Zappa stepped up close enough to hear Norris' words. His forge-tanned face scrunched dubiously. "I do hope ye ken what yeh're doin', Porre," he grunted, his eye shifting to Norris and granting him a warning glare. "'Cause if ye don't, I'll rip yehr limbs off mesel', if them monsters don't."

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Leena blushed again. This Norris knew how to put the moves on. Flattery doesn't get someone far, but it does get him somewhere. "Well, indigo is a favorite color of mine." she dreamioly stated as they walked towards where they found the Tear. She wondered if this Lynx character would still be around. She wanted to find out why he had the Tear.

"So, is there anything I should look out for. The Accacian Devas or something?"

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

"As I can recall..." he began smiling lightly to his current partner-in-crime, "Of the four Devas...only one of them is currently IN the manor, and she's busy playing with our intruders. As for our concerns...The General and Sir Lynx our the two greatest threats to our success. I believe the Frozen flame is Lynx's true goal...due to the recent trend of growth within the Accacian province it's easy to see why he would believe the General may have it." They neared the door. "You know, I could always train you as a Black Wind Adept, you could travel the world then. Though we'll have to work some on techniques." he waited for her to answer as he began to turn the handle.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

Serge wordlessly places Kid on his shoulder, grabs Glenn and drags him off along with him, hunting for Lynx.

[Viper Manor, Alternate World]

"What are you going to do to him, Serge?"