Night. The airship flew easily through the air, as if flight was
no issue. An effect of merely willing yourself high into the air, of
allowing the breeze to carry you far above the land.  A feeling as
glorious as it was inaccurate, those who first experienced it were often
left breathtaken.

	Xyo and Merine stared toward the ground, clutching at the rail
surrounding the rim of the airship. Eyes wide and glassy, the thought of
humans taking to the air consumed their minds and hearts. The first
touches of the passion of flight were beginning to consume them.

	Setzer looked over from his stoic position at the airship's
wheel. His hands moved back and forth in a soothing, rocking motion, as
if he was cradling the ship in his hands, calming its fears.

	"It's a glorious feeling, isn't it? A feeling like there is
nothing we could not do in this world, if we have achieved the power of
flight."

	Merine nodded haltingly, the image of the ground flitting by
still overwhelming her senses, "I never thought I would ever..." she
began, trailing off in mute shock.

	Xyo turned to Setzer, her face held carefully neutral, though her
eyes flitted occasionally in a violent manner, only to be reined in with
a will cold and hard as steel. "It's very nice." she whispered, her soft,
dulcet voice barely carrying over the sound of the wind blowing past the
figures standing on the moonlit deck.

	Setzer simply nodded, turning his attention back to the wheel.
And to the flight.

		***********************************

	Setzer yawned finally, pulling back on the throttle to cut the
speed of the airship until it hovered silently high above the ground.
He held his arms over his head, the resulting cacophony of pops and snaps
bringing a deep, satisfied smile to his lips. "This gambler is getting
old. I should settle down sometime, take a break."

	Setzer climbed slowly down the stairs to the recreational area of
the deck. Card and roulette tables seemed haphazardly scattered about this
deck level.

	Setzer smiled faintly, making his way among the cloth covered
tables. As he passed each one, he brushed his fingertips lightly against
the surface, the green wool's touch bringing a gentle shiver of
anticipation to Setzer's spine.

	"You always were a gambler at heart.." came a soft voice from
behind Setzer, the sound of gentle footsteps following those etheral words.

	Setzer smiled, not turning to face the woman who he had grown to
love, once before. "I always will be. Life is nothing more than a
glorified game of craps. Everything that happens, it's at the roll of the
dice." Long, slender fingers dipped inside the brown leather jacket,
drawing out a pair of gleaming ivory dice. He took a few steps toward a
poker table, shaking his fist briefly and rolling the dice violently.
They clattered briefly as they rolled down the table, finally coming to
rest on two numbers: five and a six. "Unless you know how to control the
dice, you're probably going to crap out."

	Daryl laughed briefly, a touch of reproach entering her voice.
"You're getting incomprehensible in your old age." she said, the grin on
her face more than evident in her voice.

	Setzer glanced over his shoulder, looking at the beautiful young
woman he had once asked to marry him. "Maybe. I'm not even sure if I make
sense to myself anymore. But the dice haven't lied to me yet." With those
words, Setzer walked to the door, leaving a very puzzled looking Daryl to
sit at the roulette table alone with her thoughts.

		**********************************

	Daryl and Setzer's words had not gone unobserved. Garland sat
deep in the shadows, running a sharpening stone slowly along the edge of
his sword, bringing the already razor edged weapon an even finer blade.
His eyes were turned away from the weapon, however, his eyes glowing with
a faint, thoughtful light. "Something's wrong with Setzer." he whispered
to himself, drawing himself slowly to his feet. "And I'm gonna find out
what." Garland grinned. They had all laughed at him at the
acadamy...well, he would show them...he would show them all!

	Garland chuckled softly as he turned away, walking slowly down
the hall toward his cabin. As he strode, his chuckle slowly grew,
becoming a full throated, almost maniacal laugh. Garland the Great would
triumph!

		************************************

	Tucker, Tiamat and Kraken sat around the table, sharing a bottle
of Setzer's finest among each other. The night had mellowed out everyone
considerably, and the feeling of comraderie was full in swing.

	"So these Warriors of Light, they had to destroy each of us in
order to revive the orbs and bring light to the land again. At least,
that's what the propaganda said." Kraken was saying loudly as Tucker
took a long swig from the bottle.

	"So why were you fighting them, if they were the good guys?"
asked Tucker, throwing a sly wink toward Tiamat in what the intoxicated
man thought was subtle.

	Tiamat, oblivious to Tucker's overt advances, shook her head
suddenly. "It's kind of complicated..." she started, only to look up at
the sound of the door to the cabin opening.

	Setzer stood there, a wry, sad smile touching his lips. "Have
room for another in here?" he asked softly, looking at each in a silent
plea.

	Tiamat smiled, her lips curving up into a gentle smile. "Of
course. Come on, take a seat." She said, pulling a chair up beside her.
Kraken frowned, but held in his tongue, though his dissatisfaction was
blatantly evident.

	Setzer bobbed his head in a kind of thanks, drawing up the chair.
Taking the bottle Tiamat had snatched from Tucker, he took a long, slow
pull, leaning back in his seat.

	And so the four companions sat there, exchanging a few words, or
thoughts...until the bottle was empty and the rosy hues of dawn began to
light the window.

	They were to arrive at Doma tomorrow.