Ice: It's been awhile, but I've finally returned with another one-shot. I don't own anything Star Ocean no matter how much I wish…

Everyone had just boarded the Diplo after another uneventful, yet successful mission. It was considered a high-risk mission, but it was believed "boring" was missing from that label. They returned to space restless to await another intel briefing.

Fayt was heading down the hall back to his room when Sophia stopped him. She had been thinking about something, but wasn't quite sure how to put her finger on it. Finally she decided to ask him.

"So… Fayt… Umm… Have you ever thought that maybe Maria is like your sister?"

"What? No. I'm an only child…"

"Are you sure? I haven't really seen anyone else with blue hair like you two…"

"It can happen! I'm sure there are others…," his confidence started trailing off.

"You know, you're right. I'm sure there are others and I'm just being silly."

Cliff and Mirage decided to check on everyone else and walked up on the two.

"Yo, what are we talking about this time? It better not be about Albel's skirt. You know how he gets about that," Cliff butted in.

"It's not a damn skirt, you fool!" Albel yelled from his room.

"Yeah, whatever."

"So what were you two talking about? What's got your gears turning Fayt?" Mirage inquired.

"She asked if Maria and I were related. I don't think we are. She says it's the hair," he replied.

"Well, looking at you two, I think you do have fairly similar facial structure. I think it could be possible."

"What? No! I'm an only child! My parents would have told me!"

"Hey, they didn't tell you they experimented on you three. They could have not told you other things," Cliff chimed in.

"But…"

"Think about it. She was an orphan and adopted after the experiment. It's possible they just didn't want to upset either of you."

"Yeah, but…"

"Cliff could be right. It was convenient that you and Maria both have blue hair. The same experiment that was done with you and Sophia, their own children, makes it a possibility Maria might be your sister and for safety reasons, they gave her up," Mirage theorized.

"When you put it that way… Has anyone even asked her for her thoughts on this?" Fayt suddenly thought.

"Oh hell no! We enjoy breathing. She runs a tight ship and hates to talk about her past. No, thank you. I'm not bringing it up," Cliff ranted as Sophia giggled.

"He's right. It wouldn't be wise to bring such a thing up to her. I'd rather keep the peace as well." Mirage agreed.

"I guess it would be bad to ask her…" Sophia started to say as Maria turned the corner.

"Ask me what?" Maria wondered.

"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Everyone yelped as they ran to their individual rooms.

"I might have wanted to join in…," Maria said to no one in particular.

Ice: It was something I had on my mind for a while and was wondering about. I'm sure I can't be the only one out there thinking it. As always, read and review please!