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Day 14 - morning, start of training

Gus skidded onto the training field, with a minute or two to spare. 
Jerram gave her a strange look and she tensed, but he apparently decided
to save whatever lecture Tara had set up for later.  Gus strolled over
to stand next to her partner, while Loki settled comfortably in next to Selene.

Lainie grinned broadly, breathing breathing deeply of the tangy sea air
and letting it out with a contented sigh.  "Isn't it a glorious
morning?" she caroled. 

Gus glared at her partner.  "Not bloody likely," she muttered and turned
a sullen face to watch the trainees gather.  Her eyes widened as they
lit on G'ret. "Saelida's mercy! What the hell happened to HIM?"

Lainie broke in hysterics.  "Oh, you should have seen it, Gus," she
gasped out between peels of laughter.  "That bully was just fit to be
tied because Selene got a hold of him.  She thought he was molasses and
slurped him head to toe and back again, it seems.  I only wish I'd seen
him before he cleaned up - or tried to."  She continued to giggle
merrily, ignoring G'ret's glare in her direction. 

Gus winced slightly at the noise, but managed a smile.  "Figures Selene
would try to eat anythin'.  She aint sick, now, is she?"

"I think that the only thing that makes Selene sick is fish," Lainie
chuckled, "but thanks for asking.  I just hope she doesn't start to make
a habit of this.  I don't mind her licking G'ret, but if she went for
Jerram or somebody, she could get me in a lot of trouble." 

Gus choked on the idea - getting Jerram good was always a temptation,
but she owed it to Tara to behave...or at least TRY to.  She shrugged
uncomfortably, unsure what to say to Lainie.

Lainie smiled wickedly.  "So, did you have as much fun as I did last
night?"   

Gus flushed a brilliant red as a few new memories floated to the
surface.  "Uh...not exactly."  Lainie's eyes widened with unmistakable
interest and Gus cursed softly.  Thankfully at that moment, Jerram
called the trainee class to order.  Gus quickly shushed Lainie before
she could ask questions.  With a gesture toward Jerram, Gus muttered,
"Gotta pay attention.  Tell me at lunch."  Privately Gus hoped to avoid
lunch....but she wasn't telling her partner that.

{Tag Dana - JP for lunch?}

******
G^ñret glowered at Lainie.  Lainie met G'ret's irritable gaze.  The lout
had really only gotten what he deserved.  Obeying a sudden impulse, she
stuck her tongue out at him and then turned away dismissively.She was
going to pay for this - and so was that little rat who^ñd stood up for
her last night.  Just as soon as he figured out who it was. No one got
away with making a fool out of him.  In response to that thought, his
gaze swiveled over towards Gus.  A girl? No, not just a girl, THE girl -
the one in the blue dress.  It was just wrong.  Totally wrong.  He^ñ..no,
dammit, SHE would have to pay too.... somehow.  Standing behind Seroth,
G^ñret fumed over his slights and plotted.

*****

Gus sighed.  Training was going all too well this morning - all things
considered - and it just HAD to be time for the other shoe to drop.  The
flying in the crisp air had done away with much of the hangover symptoms
and Jerram appeared not to have noticed anything out of the ordinary
with how fast she and Loki ^îlearned^ï teleporting.  G^ñret had glowered at
Lainie and only given her a few truly strange looks.  It was DEFINITELY
time for something to go wrong.

She was ready to mount up in response to Jerram^ñs calling for another
round of formation flying when Loki stopped her.  <Seyd told me to hang back.>

She knew it was too good to be true.

 <snip>
Gus looked up as he approached.  "So Tara sicced you on me, huh?" she 
asked warily.

     "You have an interesting way of putting things," he said.

    Gus shrugged.  "I tell it like it is."

     "If Tara felt you needed 'siccing,' she'd have done it herself
rather 
than send someone else.  She's not as easygoing as she comes off as
being 
sometimes."

     "She just felt sorry for me," said Gus.  "I'd rather she was mad at me."

     "Maybe she wasn't mad because she *understands* you," he pointed
out.  

     "I don't see her ever posin' as a boy," Gus said.

     "I didn't say you two could qualify as identical twins," Jerram 
grumbled.  "But she understands what it's like to be alone, not having
anyone 
you can trust except your dragon.  Your father abandoned you...hers
disowned 
her, and then tried to kill her brother.  Look, I'm not going to pretend
that 
I can even begin to understand what would help you..."

     "I don't NEED no help!!" shouted the obviously-frustrated Gus.

     Jerram cleared his throat to show that he wasn't finished.  "I
don't 
pretend that I would understand what sort of help...*if any*...that you
need. 
 But Tara understands more than you think.  Maybe she can see things
about 
you that even you can't...or have never wanted to see.  Look, this isn't
a 
plum assignment for me, because you'll probably try to kill me before
it's 
done.  But I'm willing to give it a shot and see where it leads, if you are."
<snd snip>

^îI aint tryin^ñ to kill you,^ï Gus muttered, ^îI^ñm just payin^ñ back what
you started.^ï

^îWhat *I* started?^ï  Jerram snarled.  ^îWhy - .^ï

^îYOU started.  Ever since you ^„n Saul picked me up, you been lookin^ñ
down on me, scammin^ñ me into thinkin^ñ I had to pay my way here, or
that.. ..,^ï Gus struggled with the unfamiliar word, ^îequivalency test. 
Tryin^ñ to score off me.  You scam me, I pay back.^ï  She nodded firmly to
drive her point home and then sighed heavily.  ^îLookit, I aint happy
about this - no more ^„n you are.  But if Tara wants it, there aint much
choice, is there?^ï

Jerram frowned in thought but nodded. He turned to the landing trainees.
 ^îOk, everyone, take a break.  Be back here in 30 minutes, GO.^ï  He
turned back to Gus.  ^îShall we start?^ï

_____________
Submitted by:

Katrina aka Gus/Loki

NRPG: Thanks to Dana for playing Lainie... and yes, its short, theres a
JP to follow! Right, John?  

Oh, and that "equivalency test"?  Read back around May 99...something
about being locked in a room with wraiths... <G>