(OOG: Co-written by myelf and Nate. It's been a /long/ time since I wrote for any DeM characters... Not counting recent posts, since I started this before those. In December. Whee. ^^;)

It was good to be home.

Victoria stopped a moment on the skyway, leaning on the rail and letting her eyes absorb the sleek, streamlined vista of Etrenank that stretched out below her in tiers. No hot breezes razed her skin, no dust gritted beneath her feet. Only the pure, cold clank of her boots upon metal reached her ears when she turned away from the view to continue on her way.

It had only been two weeks that she had spent in Aveh, yet...... even that had seemed too long. She remembered, very faintly, a love of the sand, a love of playing in it...... but it was just a distant dream, to her. It was so hard to imagine - Aveh's dry heat had nearly sapped the life right out of her. Why on earth would she ever have been -glad- to go back to it?

No, Solaris was a welcome sight, and a welcome feeling. She couldn't imagine caling anything else 'home'. If only Shaina were with her......

But no, Shaina was on the surface, involved in an absurd chase with a -Lamb-, instead of with her fellow Elements. She said the orders came from Mordon...... And she was going to have words with him. Rank didn't matter -- a scientist didn't have the right to interfere with something under military jurisdiction. And no matter how nice he was...... he had better have a damned good reason for ruining her command.

She wouldn't mind knowing just why they were searching so hotly for Elanore, either. She was a useless amnesiac as she was - what did they want with her? It was ridiculous...... Was it just because Elanore was Gazel? Or was there actually a -reason- behind it?

**Or maybe it's just good records.** She could admit, if grudgingly, that Elanore's records from Jugend, and Gebler, were exceptional; in fact, she thought that if there were ever any need to fill her position as Fire Element, that girl would be perfect for the job.

But -why- search so frantically for her? It wasn't as if she couldn't take care of herself, even in this state -- as she had so clearly demonstrated during the tournament.

Things just didn't make sense, anymore.

The gate to Mordon's home stood open. She walked through, hesitantly, though nothing gave her a feel of wrongness....... it seemed a little strange that they were left that way, though. Did he have another visitor? He supposedly operated them himself -- was he too busy to watch for her arrival, or something?

//How stupid can I be? He's a busy man...// She shook her head, continuing on through the courtyard to the door. A try at the keypad revealed another unlocked door - although she supposed he could have keyed it to her fingerprints. It seemed like a little much, but...... she felt that was more likely than Mordon being in danger. Something told her he was not the type to be threatened for long.

//I wonder if he'll protest, if I tell him I'm going.// It was an idle thought, one she had been entertaining for quite a while, ever since she had received Shaina's last report. She didn't exactly have to clear it with anyone -- she was second in command, after all. //Shaina is my responsibility. Deserting her down there is like running out of battle......// It was literally a crime to abandon a fellow Solarian to the surface, outside of training......

And she was damned well going to take advantage of that rule. The other two could come or go as they decided, but this time, she was going to pull rank and get Shaina out of that hell hole the Lambs called Aveh.

The thoughts turned into plans, working themselves out even as she searched Mordon's mansion for the signs of life that would mean she'd found him, and whoever else might be with him. The place was /huge/. She had to give him credit for decoration; while gray and white were getting old, what with Solaris being the same all over, the tiny little details, like carvings here, or silver-streaked marble there, almsot made up for the rest of it.

She wondered, for a moment, why he hadn't bothered to at least decorate with the simple pieces and merchandise that the more elegant First Class favored, but it passed quickly. He was a scientist... he ruled a good portion of the city, as well. Who had time for decorating?

And why was /she/ wondering about something so trivial? She was here for a business meeting.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of searching - though it couldn't have been more than five minutes - she slowed; voices traveled to her ears, soft, yet close. There were only three doors in this particular corridor, and only one was open, if just a crack. Victoria softened her tread as she had been trained to do, gliding forward silently as the words flowed past her ears, and broken half-sentences became whole, and audible.

"...says things are going well enough, certainly. I don't dispute you on that. But I see absolutely no progress in her capture."

//Myaru.// Victoria nearly halted, breathing stilled, before moving forward yet again to stand outside the door.

"Things are progressing as best they can." Mordon's voice was distinctive, to her ears at least, and calm as ever. Diamond. "The fact that Elehaym has also fallen in among Animus has not escaped my notice, either. If anything, I had expected such a thing to brighten your day......"

"The Animus are not my concern, Mordon. My concern is Elly's presence on the surface, and what that Element is going to do about it! We need her back, if we are going to --"

"I am well aware of why we need the girl, /Miang/." The coolness within those words should have frozen the room solid. "She will be obtained when we are ready for her...... and if Shaina can draw her in beforetime, all the better. It's time her memories were restored. We cannot have her recalling her true self before she even remembers /this/ time and place."

Well, that was one question answered. The had a reason for wanting Elly...... though the name they were using wasn't any she knew of. Yet still...... the /why/ of the matter was still a mystery. And......

//Miang?// Something to note. //Why would she be Miang to him...... and something else to us?// Not a farce; she doubted Mordon would have the patience for it. And that meant that the rest of them were getting duped - as usual.

//Shaina, your theories on the stupidity of humankind haven't failed yet. Just wanted you to know that.// Victoria smirked, creeping quietly back down the hallway as the conversation continued. Wouldn't do to get caught, after all.

Enough. Victoria began walking toward the door again, this time doing nothing to mask the fall of her footsteps, the heavy click of hard leather upon delicate tile. And as she expected, by the time she reached the door and tapped a soft knock, the conversation within had ceased. Dull pleasantries were heard in its stead.

"Come."

The door swung open at her fingertips, revealing a simple, almost stark sitting room. A large bay window not unlike the one in her own apartment stretched across the far wall, overlooking the main part of the First Class level city. Mordon and Myaru stood before that window, each a slender shadow against the light from without, almost as if they were darkness, standing against the encroaching holy light.

But they were, of course, /supposed/ to symbolize the /holy/ light, weren't they?

She snapped off an informal salute, bowing to Mordon as formality required of her rank. Myaru she simply nodded to; 'aide' was not a military rank in her book, and if she wasn't a member of the elite, then Victoria wasn't going to bother with formal courtesy. Let Ariath complain if he wanted to.

"Nice to see you again, Victoria......" Myaru's words were smooth, but her eyes were sharp enough to be daggers.

Seemed she remembered their conversation in the lounge. Victoria smiled.

Mordon nodded to her once, briefly, before turning back to his other guest. "We'll speak more about this later, Myaru. Report to the lab at eighteen hundred hours with your reports."

After a very, very long moment, Myaru nodded, gathering her composure and turning away from the window to head for the door. She didn't seem overly angry or affronted; in fact, she seemed almsot relieved to go, as if the visit had been a stress to her. But it was only a faint impresson - as she passed Victoria, her eyes flashed ice, expression perfectly normal, but for that one vision of hostility.

Victoria graced her with a small smile, turning to watch her back until the door closed behind her. Satisfying, that - it wasn't often that she managed to one-up the woman......

"Please, have a seat, Victoria."

She blinked, shifting to look over her shoulder; Mordon was already seated in an armchair, lifting a mug of tea to his lips. It struck her as odd - but not his apparent relaxation, so much as the fact of her presence. It was always odd... she wasn't quite sure how she felt about being 'noticed' by this man, just yet......

"Please......" He gestured gracefully; she followed his gaze, and lowered herself into the indicated chair. "We have much to talk about......"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mordon took another sip of his tea, "You seem a little on edge. Is something wrong?" He knew the military protocol and what he had asked her to do. Leaving one's troop was seen as abandonment, but that was of no concern to Mordon and what could happen. He could easily fix it for he had help write the dumb law.

"Nothing that cannot be fixed easily." Victoria stated calmly. //I am not going to ask how.//

Mordon stood up, "Would you like something to drink Victoria? I have not been very gentlemanly."

"No I am fine, but what is it that we needed to talk about?"

Mordon walked over to the bay window and looked out. Victoria watched as he stood there not moving or making a sound. Than he slowly sifted and spoke softly, "You want to go back for Shaina don't you?"

//What? He knows, but how?// Victoria just sat still for a moment than answered, "Yes and you can not stop me from going back. It is my du...

Mordon waved his hand to cut her off, "It is not my intent to keep you from your duty or your position. I fully understand the so-called etiquette of the military. I sent for you because..." //Stop. You will become to vulnerable and weak. Don't let your guard down.//

Mordon stopped in mid sentence and turned to look back out the window.

"Because why? There must be some reason why." Victoria noticed his hand and it was shaking. She stood up and walked toward him, "Mordon, are you alright?"

No answer.

She moved closer and put her hand on his shoulder. It was shaking from his hand. "Is something wrong?" She looked at him curiously.

As sudden as the shaking started it stopped. "I am fine, it is just nerves. I have been working very hard lately." He took her hand off his shoulder, held on to it, and looked Victoria right in the eyes, "Promise that you will come back."

"What?" Victoria noticed his gaze and hands were not as cold as usual, but were strangely warm and...human.

"Just promise."

"Ok, I promise, but I don't understand what for. I have always come back before."

"No, this is not the same."

Victoria also noticed a difference in his voice. It was not as commanding, but more, if it was possible, caring. "Alright, alright. I promise to come back."

Mordon just stood there looking at her for a moment, than reached into his pocket with his empty hand and pulled out an item. "I want you to take this just in case." He opened her hand a placed the small device in her palm, than he closed her hand and held it, "If and only if, in an emergency use this. It is a special device I made just for this."

Victoria pulled her hand back and looked at the device. "What is it?"

"Ask me when you reach the surface later." He turned and looked back out the window.

"Well I better get going than, Mordon." She turned and headed for the door.

"Victoria," she stopped not turning around though, "thank you for coming."

She looked at the small device in her hand, gave a half smile, and walked out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

//I should have not done that. I just....NO I am a man and will live like a man. I have a goal and it will not be lost, for better or worse. Deus, soon we will return.//

Mordon walked over to a communications console and turned it on. The dark figure appeared on the screen. "You have a mission to attend to, correct?"

"Yes, my lord. It will be done." The figure disappeared.

Mordon turned the communications console off and walked toward the window. He caught a glimpse of Victoria as she walked out the gate. He turned his gaze toward the sky, "Now, it will begin."

(Summary: Victoria means to tell Mordon that she wants to join Shaina on the surface, and isn't going to take no for an answer. She overhears a conversation between he and Myaru, and then proceeds to carry on a long discussion with him.)