Deep
Chapter Four
…in another argument
A/N I really should put this up more often. Iam so sorry guys. Here it is, I hope you enjoy it... lots of yelling. Wee! Oh and beaties are a type of cigarette.

Rikku leaned against the bike on the dock of Luca and tried not to tap her foot. Her hand held a box of beaties, something she hadn't used in years and she bounced it against her leg. Her eyes were on the sky and her thoughts were back at the Moonflow. She wished she'd stayed a few minutes longer for something had stuck out in her mind on her ride out of the hills and cliffs to the road and to Luca.

Lin said there were others. 'Damn, I need to tell Gippal that,' She frowned. 'Or Sal or someone, not that I think Gippal would believe me. Damn, damn, damn my memory.' Rikku's leg began to jerk.

"Rikku, where are you?" Brother's obnoxious voice interrupted her reverie and self-recriminations.

"Luca docks," she replied.

"We'll be right there," Brother signed off.

"Goody," Rikku sighed and stretched her muscles. She placed the beatie box in a pouch on the bike and ran her fingers through her hair. Brother, true to his word settled the ship down right over the dock. Rikku reached over and turned the bike on and walked it up the open ramp. It closed as she hit the middle and Rikku pulled the bike's nose up to make it up the stairs where she parked it in the engine room.

Yuna and Paine waited at the top of the stairs. Rikku grabbed the pipe and pouch off the bike's side and slung them over her shoulder. She ignored their angry poses and frowns as she walked past them and into the corridor connecting the room to the lift. She paused in front of one of the panels and touched the painting. It slid aside to reveal a hidden closet. Rikku racked the rocket launcher next to similar models, placed the pouch on the ground, un-slung the gun belt from her waist, and threw that on the appropriate hook. Lastly, she rummaged through the pouch for the few items and supplies she'd picked up in Luca while waiting for the Celsius. She zipped it shut and tapped the closet closed. "Shinra, lock the weapon's storeroom back up would you?"

There was a soft click in response.

Rikku unzipped the jumpsuit to her navel as she turned and raised an eyebrow as she saw Tidus leaning next to the lift. She looked behind her, Yuna and Paine watched her closely. Rikku ran her fingers through her loose hair and massaged the back of her neck leaning her head back. 'I need a shower, and a nap would be great.' She thought. She straightened out and headed towards the lift.

The others' eyes, blue, green, red tracked her and her teammates followed her into the lift. Rikku hit the button for the cabin and leaned her elbows over the rail. When the cabin door opened, Brother was seated at the bar. Buddy nestled into a corner and Shinra actually sat on the bar.

"Well," Rikku raised her eyebrows. "I like the welcoming committee, but these long faces have got to go. Don't you agree, Barkeep, Darling?"

The Hypello were wise enough not to answer.

"Uh huh, okay then. You guys do whatever you were doing." Rikku shrugged and headed towards the stairs. "Silence works."

"We were talking about you, actually." Tidus offered.

"Go back to it then." Rikku mounted the stairs. "Just keep it down, I think I'm going to take a nap."

Brother exploded. "No. You are going to stay right here and listen to us."

Rikku stopped, one foot in the air. She slowly put it down and pivoted to look back down at Brother.

"That was a pretty high level fiend you fought today," Shinra commented.

"Don't sound so impressed." Rikku retorted.

"Are you insane to go against something like that by yourself!" Brother waved his arms up and down.

Rikku looked at the others and shrugged. She sat down on the steps. "I can see you all have something to say. So spit it out."

Buddy cleared his throat. "How is Sal?"

"A few cuts, maybe some bruises, but he's still breathing. I'm sure Rex can handle it." Rikku nodded. 'Buddy at least is reasonable.' She sighed. "They're helping Gippal out."

Buddy swore. "They joined a faction."

"Most of us have joined a team of some sort or another," Rikku said and immediately wished she hadn't.

Yuna pounced on the word. "Yeah, did you forget you're part of team too?"

Rikku winced. "There wasn't time. I didn't have a choice." She grimaced inwardly, 'that's an excuse I've been using a lot lately.'

"From the sounds of it," Paine stared at her. "You didn't want our help."

Rikku stood. "This was my problem, not yours."

"That's part of being a team, that's part of being friends. We help each other out." Paine responded.

"Which is exactly what I was doing!" Rikku pointed at her chest with her thumb.

"Sal or Gippal?" Shinra asked.

"Why the fuck does it matter?" Rikku colored.

"I thought you said Gippal could rot. What changed your mind?" Tidus smirked.

"Nothing changed my mind. I already promised to help out before I said that. And that I promised to Sal." Rikku said savagely. "I don't like to see people die because of my stupidity."

"So Gippal's decision to go after the bandits is now your fault?" Paine snorted.

"What about the rest of us, we helped blow up that base too? We need to repay our debt for doing that." Yuna gestured wildly. "You weren't alone in that endeavor. You didn't have to be alone in this one either."

"You're right, I didn't and I wasn't." Rikku crossed her arms. "I had the other Al Bhed forces with me."

Brother looked as if he wanted to say something, but the accusations and counter points were flying so thick and fast he couldn't get a word in edgewise.

"And that makes it all right to leave your friends behind." Yuna said.

"No." Rikku threw up her hands. "Obviously not, but as I said. Time was critical. You guys aren't very fast drivers. So, I had to make a decision and I made one."

"Brother is to make the decisions."

Rikku's eyes widened. "I didn't do this as a professional Gullwing job! Brother has no say in the matter."

"So you used the Celsius for transportation, Gullwing equipment and weapons for a non Gullwing job?" Shinra ticked off on his fingers.

Rikku screamed. "Yes. There, you happy. Why? I have vested interest and money in the Celsius, the equipment and weapons. I partially own them. I have the fucking right to use them."

"Rikku, what if you had died?" Yuna cried.

"Now the fact my life was in danger comes up." Rikku threw her hands up and came back down the stairs. "If I had died, I wouldn't be around to think about it." Rikku shrugged. "And it didn't happen, so why does it matter?"

"Because you are part of the team." Paine said.

"And you're important!" Yuna agreed.

Tidus ran his fingers through his hair. "We're worried that you'll do this again."

"After my first try!" Rikku scoffed. "You're blowing things out of proportion." Strangely she found she was no longer tired.

"Rikku," Brother spoke up. "Did you at least get paid?"

Rikku blinked and then smirked. "Of course, I'm going out to dinner, with Gippal, alone." She sauntered past Tidus and hit the lift button for the deck.

"Fuck," Buddy whispered into the silence of the cabin.

"So maybe flaunting herself in front of Gippal to get his attention will work." Shinra murmured. "I cannot fathom relationships." He jumped down from the bar and walked out.

--

Gippal grabbed Sal's shoulder and turned him around straight into his fist. Sal reeled back and instinctively swung back. Gippal took it in the gut, bending over and gasping for air. Sal's knee came up into Gippal's chin. Gippal stumbled back and both shook their heads to clear them.

The huge over six-foot Al Bhed Sal had been talking with took a few steps back and looked with yellow-green eyes between the combatants. He shook his head and knew the wisest course of action would be to stay out of it. Quiet descended over the Djose Temple clearing. Sal reached up and worked his jaw back and forth.

Gippal struck with an upwards kick and Sal managed to block it with both arms, but wasn't able to grab the leg to throw Gippal to the ground. Sal closed the distance between them and started swinging. Gippal retaliated in kind.

Whispers ran through the audience as a hulking man in red walked across the bridges and onto this scene of the Machine Faction leader and one of his subordinates brawling in the dirt. Nooj stopped and leaned against his cane.

Gippal spat blood and Sal wiped his bottom lip, as they broke apart. Round one was over and it wasn't clear if there had been a winner in this age old male ritual. Sal smirked.

"Stings doesn't it?"

"Fuck you, Sal." Gippal replied.

"She's right."

"I do not need her help."

"Oh yeah, you did." Sal smirked. "But I can understand. No man likes to be bailed out of anything by a girl, especially a younger girl. And one that-"

"Shut up."

Sal laughed and dodged Gippal's punch. "Oh, so it's a big secret all of a sudden. Forget it man, everyone knows except maybe her."

Gippal's punch landed this time and Sal staggered gasping for air.

Nooj's lips tightened. He understood the idea behind this but didn't find it the best way to handle problems. "Is no one going to stop this madness?" He barked.

The large Al Bhed sighed and looked around. Rex's masked figure stepped out of the temple and the larger man gestured with his head to the two fighting men.

"She was wrong." Gippal retorted savagely.

"Oh please," Sal rolled his eyes. "You were impressed and pleased to be safe up until you found out who had come. Though I don't know who else you expected. Rex wouldn't think of something like that."

Rex stopped next to the larger Al Bhed. "Gippal, do kick his ass into the ground for me." He looked at the other guy. "Sorry, Fitz."

Fitz shrugged. "It wasn't my idea in the first place."

"I wasn't asking for permission," Gippal growled. "And how did you come to that conclusion?"

Sal grinned, "You're fucking transparent to those who know you. You know the first thing you should have done instead of getting pissed. You should have asked her on that date."

Gippal's face darkened.

"It would have made things go much easier after that." Sal paused. "Have you thought about where you're taking her to dinner by the way?"

Gippal punched.

"Ah, Knuckle Sandwiches, good joint." Sal nodded and scrambled out of the way. "Though not up to your usual romantic standards."

Gippal's face darkened even further and he pulled out whatever restraint he had been using and attacked.

"Now," Fitz muttered. "This has gotten out of hand."

Rex nodded. "Arlo, Del!"

Two more men separated from the crowd and joined Fitz and Rex. They split into two teams and grabbed Sal and Gippal pulling them apart. They glared at each other panting. Sal relaxed against the hands holding him and Gippal strained. Nooj walked slowly between them and into the temple. Gippal shook himself loose from those restraining him and with a last dirty look in Sal's direction followed Nooj inside.

Nooj examined the chaos that Gippal called his office. Gippal walked past into the bathroom and turned on the cold water. He splashed his face and patted it dry, wincing as he came across small abrasions and bruises. He leaned close into the mirror and gently ran his fingers down his jaw. It was slightly puffy and he was thankful Sal hadn't given him a black eye. That would have been embarrassing.

"So, what was that all about?" Nooj asked.

"A disagreement of opinion," Gippal responded. He unbuckled his gauntlets, pulled off his gloves, unbuckled his shoulder pads and stripped off his shirt. He was sure that some of his ribs were cracked. He hissed at the contusions already forming on his muscles.

"Wouldn't have talking been easier?"

There was a splash of more water and Nooj turned to see Gippal had plunged his entire head under the stream. He brought his head out and shook it, spraying water droplets everywhere and blindly reached for a towel. Years of long practice allowed him to scrub his face and hair semi dry without dislodging the eye patch he had since a childhood accident. Gippal used the now damp towel to wipe down his chest, arms and back. He glanced at his shirt and debated putting it back on but it was dirty. He shrugged and re-entered his office and began rummaging on the desk.

"Maybe," Gippal said. "But not as satisfying."

Nooj watched in fascination as Gippal found an ashtray under a stack of blueprints, his beaties in a sketchpad. Gippal paused as he looked at the half drawn picture. It wasn't quite right and he couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. He traced the line of the cheek with his finger and shook his head. Gippal frowned, the eyes were right. Rikku's bright happy eyes but they didn't fit with the rest of the face. He shut the pad with a snap and opened the top drawer to retrieve his lighter, which was sitting on top of the scarf he'd stolen from Rikku a few days ago. He shoved the drawer shut with a clang and looked up at Nooj as he lit up. "So, what brings you all the way out here to my domain?"

"I was wondering if word of some of Baralai's new stances had reached your ears."

Gippal took a long drag on the beatie and shook his head. "I've been busy working on other things."

"Ah," Nooj nodded.

"He hasn't restricted freedom of movement or anything like that?" Gippal frowned.

"No, I just find the some of the new ideas rather disturbing."

Gippal stared at Nooj. He had a feeling in the pit of his aching stomach that he knew where this was going and he didn't like it. 'Did they learn nothing from the last two years and Vegnagun? I knew all that smiling on stage and to Lady Yuna had to be fake.' Gippal flicked the ash off the end of the cigarette. "You know my stance Nooj. It hasn't changed no matter what you two do."

"You can't remain neutral forever." Nooj growled.

"Watch me," Gippal stated flatly. 'I think in a few days I'll have Baralai down here trying to convince me that something Nooj is doing is quote un-quote disturbing.' He suppressed a sigh. "You two can go at it all you like, but the rest of us have actual work to do."

"It involves machines," Nooj warned.

"Machines and Yevon have been in cahoots for years." Gippal waved his hand. "That is not likely to change in the near future." He narrowed his eye. "I don't know what you intended to accomplish by all this, but it won't work. And I do have work to catch up on, new employees to go through, cargo lists to review and so on."

Nooj stood up. "You never listen."

"You know, I've been hearing that accusation so much lately I'm wondering if there is any truth to it." Gippal mused, eye on the ceiling. He thought about it for a moment. "Nah, you guys just don't get my superior wisdom." He looked back down at Nooj. "Thanks for dropping by Noojster."

Nooj sighed and turned to go. "You'll regret this."

"Unlikely," Gippal placed his feet on his desk. "My only regrets involve women."

Nooj limped the rest of the way out and Gippal watched him go with a look of extreme distaste on his face. Once Nooj was out of sight and out of hearing, Gippal let loose a deep sigh that made him wince in pain. "So much for our Eternal Calm." He said to the empty office and reached for the sketchbook. 'Maybe the eyes are what's wrong and the rest of the picture is right.' He thought and carefully began erasing.

--

"Lin is dead sir," a man in a white helmet saluted his superior.

The man straightened and gestured the girl who had been nearby to leave. "Tell me more," he ordered.

The other bandit pulled a sphere from his pocket. "Apparently after our outpost was destroyed by parties unknown, Gippal of the Machine Faction found out and decided to use that as cover to invade us. Lin got wind of it and was confident that he could deal with this nuisance himself."

The bandit leader cut the other off for a moment. "Perhaps Gippal knew the people who blew the base up or he did it himself."

"I don't know, sir. However, according to all we can discover things were going well for Lin until reinforcements arrived for Gippal's side. Due to superior tactics on their part they managed to capture and kill Lin. The reinforcements were led by this woman." The bandit turned on the sphere and Rikku's face and torso appeared on the screen. "We can't determine who she is or how she is related to Gippal but we do know that she doesn't work for the Machine Faction and perhaps is part of her own group."

"She wears Minli's Torque."

The bandit cleared his throat. "Yes sir, so we also think that she had something to do with the base blow up as well."

"That is enough to identify her at the moment." The bandit leader leaned back and drummed his fingers together. "Kill them both."

The bandit saluted. "At once sir."

The bandit leader smiled and called the girl back in to attend him. The Machine Faction wouldn't be a nuisance much longer.

--