Chapter Seven: Full House

[Purr]

(Part 2 of 2 - Great timing, Cap'n! You posted right as I began editing that last post!)

Hercules is taken aback by Toph’s statement. He glances up at Hitomi and, seeing her expression, sighs sadly and turns his attention back to the Broo.
“I am Hercules. I fight, I cook, I sing.”

The Broo, watching this monumentally-strong human address them, immediately crawl, hop, and carefully walk up to get a better look at the muscle-bound Greek giant. As they stare in a moment of awe-filled silence, Bong takes a moment to stand with importance beside Hercules. The shaman holds out one hand and presents him with two words:

"Furless Karbarran."

"OHHH!!" the Broo cry out in even more awe. Those that were hiding come out now.

"I joke. Is human." Bong says and some of the Broo stare confusedly at Bong for a long moment, some with narrowed eyes, others with rolling eyes. Bong takes this in stride and turns to Hercules. "You fight?"

"Hhhehee keeell deee monnssstaaa!" Piper raises a finger and murmurs drunkenly from the table.

"Shush, Pie-pa," Bong grins. "You mud-brain right now."

Faydra steps forward and addresses Hercules. If the Broo have any warriors, they seem to begin with her. "Hurk-yoo-leez? Pie-pa say you keel de monsta. But cook. Sing. So why sad? You home on Earth." Faydra broods a moment. "No food? Want song? Company?" She looks back toward Sam as if to be ready to give him the order to raise the music back to its former level.

Somewhere from behind Faydra, Coosi shouts out, "An hooow yooou git sooo beeeg?!" A ruckus of good-natured laughter follows from the Broo.

Meanwhile, from the balcony, Hitomi says nothing but continues typing that warm grin still upon her face. It is the look of someone who feels beautiful because of the compliments of someone else. The Japanese-Polynesian needs not say it; it is there in her smile.

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Hercules replies to the many questions as well as he can, his head turning to each inquirer in turn.
”Yes, I kill the monsta.”
“I’m not sad, just confused because so much is happening. Yes, I like food and I like to sing.”
”My Mama fed me fish and other good things!”

 

[Purr]

Sheesa, with her dark, tall form, climbs over one of her fellows.

"Ask!" One of her tribe mates beckons to her.

"Mmm..." she keeps her mouth closed and looks worried.

Coosi, a summery creature of daytime colors puts her hand on Sheesa's brown shoulder and encourages her. "Sheesa ask! Wild Card is true!"

Sheesa gulps, troubles a little, and says rather quietly, "We confuse too. Home far. Monsta want kill Earth. Slave human. Take 'Culture. We huntas, no warr-ee-orz. Hurk-yoo-leez warr-ee-or. Is Hurk-yoo-leez... afraid of monsta?"

* * *​

The moment Hercules mentioned to the word fish, trouble meows as loud as you can and all of you hear, "Feeesh!" in your minds.

"Earth haz best feeesh an' Herc is feeesh-god!"

"Why?" Shaman Bong asks.

"Because he share feeesh wif me! Yaaay!"

Many of the Broo cheer, hug Trouble, smile up at Hercules.

* * *​

"What you sing?" Pipes up a small, cute, and excited female voice from somewhere in the tribe. "You sing rock-roll?"

But Faydra shakes her head causing her fiery mane to toss from side to side. "Rock-roll? Him? Too gentle. Mar-ee-yo rock-roll. Herc? I say he sing something else."

"Ooooh," comes at the collective sound of many curious Beasties. They lean forward, eager to hear Herc's reply.

"What you sing?" Sheesa asks plainly, her shyness and fear momentarily conquered by her Broo curiosity.

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Hercules looked into Sheesa's dark, brooding eyes with a fire in his brown eyes and a confident smile on his lips, "Hercules fears nothing, no man, no monsta, no machine!"
But he quietened as he heard Faydra's words.
"No, maybe not rock and roll, but songs of my people, of Greece. Songs with souls and hearts and tears."
With that, he walked over to the stage and picked up a microphone. He found the means to silence the Captain's singing and began a song of his own, all the while looking up at the balcony where Hitomi sat typing.

Spoiler: Translation

Middle of the week, every night,
I think of you and I suffer
And the Friday, is a sad day,
I remember our sojourn (our ending’s eve)


Every Saturday night
I cry and i am nearly dead
Because of you
Such day we used to go out,
How should I overcome
your absence now


Wednesday morning, a little cloudy,
a touch of loneliness
And Friday (is) a rainy day,
God is crying because i am alone

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Taaag!

Hercules looked into Sheesa's dark, brooding eyes with a fire in his brown eyes and a confident smile on his lips, "Hercules fears nothing, no man, no monsta, no machine!"

Sheesa's eyes brood no more as Hercules responds with a flame she in no way predicts. With each bold expression of fearlessness, she shrinks back until by the time he has exclaimed, "no machine!" the shadowy, shy Broo has retreated back into the protective fold of her fellow tribemates until she is but a pair of glowless eyes peering at Hercules from the dark. Still, she gazes on.

* * *​

But he quietened as he heard Faydra's words.
"No, maybe not rock and roll, but songs of my people, of Greece. Songs with souls and hearts and tears."
With that, he walked over to the stage and picked up a microphone. He found the means to silence the Captain's singing and began a song of his own, all the while looking up at the balcony where Hitomi sat typing.

The former music dies down (thanks to Spaceman Sam) and the new music begins with Hercules as its sole heartfelt performer. As the song begins and Hercules begins to sing to the balcony, it becomes very quickly apparent to all there who the song is meant for. One by one, Reggie, Murphy, Captain Sharp, and Professor Stein look over to Hitomi whose eyes are getting larger by the moment as she is attempting to interpret just what Hercules is expressing. After a few clicks on her own laptop, she her full attention toward Hercules.

Those watching spot a a few kind and surprised-looking comments between Professor Stein and his assistant. Hercules's performance is nothing anyone up in the balcony expected, least of all the Japanese-Polynesian lady there. Hitomi appears bewildered and pleased at the same time. She glances down at her laptop screen and her a look of wonder encompasses the beautiful vision that is Hitomi's face.

By the time his song is halfway in, Hitomi seems to make a decision - she eagerly reaches into her hefty purse and whips a red soft something out of it. She stands and turns her back to everyone and pulls the thing over her head. It turns to be a dress, and not just any kind of dress, but a classy and attractive backless affair of scarlet fabric with straps and sequins of shining gold worn over her Broadsword uniform.

When Hitomi turns back to the music, she instantly becomes one with it, her hands, shoulders, hair, and hips all swaying in a slow, expressive dance that fits all-too-well with the Mediterranean nature of Hercules's song. Just like that, her movements match the rhythm and the mood of the song as if she has known it all of her life. Hitomi's grace and beauty are enough to make the average man wonder - is she human or is she one of Jupiter's dusky daughters whose unearthly allure is hard to draw one's eyes away from?

In moments, it becomes clear - Hitomi has chosen to accompany Hercules's performance with one of her own without any attempt at taking the spotlight from the Greek giant - hers instead compliments, perhaps as a show of gratitude for the sheer enjoyment of the moment he has unexpectedly provided.

Several Broo catch sight of her and a series of "whooaas" and "who she?" rise from them. Sometimes, they don't seem to know who to watch - Hercules or Hitomi, so each gazes as their souls require while some do their best to watch both. As Hercules's song's ending notes fade, rousing cheers and lusty howls erupt from all over Drake's from both the balcony and the Tribe of the Star Watchers. Hitomi stands up in the balcony smiling and clapping as if in a standing ovation for Hercules. One by one, Murph, Stein, and Sharp rise to stand with her while smiling Reggie simply raises his own clapping hands above his head. The few Broo who try to clap slap their hands together with stinging force.

There is another sound coming from the twenty-odd Broo in the audience - there is some sniffling, cuddling, and gazing fondly up at Hercules. Even Sheesa peeks out from behind her Broo-barricade. The Broo are touched by words they in no way understand, but touched nonetheless.

When the moment passes, Hitomi sits back down and reads the contents of her laptop's screen with more than passing interest.

Meanwhile, Hercules is bombarded by questions. "You love her?" some of the Broo ask. "What you sing? No undastand words!" "Hurk-yoo-leez sing great! He cooks great too?"

* * *​

While Hercules is, of course, free to answer as he desires, there are calls for "Next Wild Card! Come! Greet!" to present themselves, introduce themselves by name, and provide a little something most don't know - whether they choose to do so in the fabulous manner Hercules has chosen to or not... is up to them. =)

 

[Silanon]

The calls for the next one to step up, say their piece; they mark the end of a precious break, a moment for the Swede to get her mind back up to speed. An enthusiastic bunch, these Broo, at least from what they've shown thus far. Quite overwhelming, if one is not prepared, and there's nothing that could've prepared her for this. Not just the Broo - this whole thing, really. The bar, the song, the 'ambush', even though she saw it coming. Feelings, chaos, excitement - easy to get lost there, for a moment, though that moment has to end right now. Can't disappoint these sudden allies. Not without trying, at the very least.

"Well, might as well take my turn right now. Name's Ylva Sveadotter, glad to meet you - again." The Swede's eyes search for Duskee, that handful. "Thanks for getting me here safely, I owe you two a drink once all of this is over." Didn't quite manage to get anything meaningful out before the two vanished back in the crowd, back then. What do you even say, in moments like those? Oh well, it'll be a fond memory, one day. When they share the drink, or something. Maybe not one of Bong's brews, though, that might not end too well...

For some reason, the Swede adjusts her hair as she continues to speak. "Spent more time in a cockpit than in a lab, lately, so I guess I'd count more as a Logan pilot than a scientist. So... things you don't know. Should be easy, right? Being new, and all... grew up far away, in a cold place called Stockholm. It's all the way on the other side of the ocean. Always been fond of water, myself. Spent lots of time sailing, over there. Walked on the seafloor a few times, too; in a modified Logan. Grew up with my mom, dad's too much of a soldier to ever settle down. Hates the cold, too..." A shrug. "Guess that should do it. Couldn't sing to save my life, so if I ever try, stop me." A nod in Herules' direction. "Good thing he covered that. I play the guitar every once in a while, that's about all I can manage."

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Hercules' face turns as red as Hitomi's dress after he realised what she'd done and was rapidly reduced to a stammering wreck, unable to answer any of the questions the Broo bombarded him with. His uniform collar seemed suddenly too tight, too restrictive. He tucked a finger in and worked it around, trying to let some air in and what felt like the heat of a small small sun out.
"Please," he begged, "I need some air."
He stumbled toward the entrance to Drake's and (unless someone in his group stop him) thumbed the door entrance to let himself out.

 

[Psychie]

Toph lets out a quiet sigh. It doesn't look like her hopes of finding a relationship with Hitomi is doomed. It is clear to her that Hercules has a better shot at the beautiful woman than she does. Ah, well. There are plenty of other people out there that I can find love with. Best of luck, Herc!

 

[Kaerri]

Elinor is as surprised as anyone when Hercules starts singing, but for some reason the only thing that surprises her about Hitomi joining in is the fact that she keeps a nice dress like that in her purse. If Elinor had been inclined to such clothing, she'd want to know how, and how she could manage it! Instead, she just wonders about the physics involved, and how the thing isn't wrinkled. Must be some good fabric.

She watches Hercules leave the room with reserved concern. It isn't clear to her whether he's just embarrassed by the attention, or by Hitomi's reaction to it, or if there's something deeper at work. Either way, it wasn't her business until and unless it interfered with their duty. And everyone deserved the respect of being allowed some alone time when they needed it. Child of a well-populated farm, Elinor knew the value of time spent by oneself, and it looked like Hercules needed it just now.

She turns to Ylva. "On the seafloor? That's somethin' else. I think Broadsword is the first time I've been in any kind of transportation device that went under the water. My family's farm is pretty landlocked, so the only water-travel we did was swimmin' in the old quarry." She smiles. "What's it like down there? I've imagined it to be like flyin', only darker and less visibility."

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Tag!

"Please," he begged, "I need some air."
He stumbled toward the entrance to Drake's and (unless someone in his group stop him) thumbed the door entrance to let himself out.

As the door to Drake's sheathed itself shuts behind him, Hercules is rewarded with a great wave of silence and that refreshing feeling of being alone when the need is great. Gone are the partying sounds of the energetic Broo and Hercules's fellow Wild Cards. Now the only thing Hercules hears are the sounds of his own echoing booted footsteps and the ever-present soothing hum of the Broadsword which seems to come from all around.

It is then in the well-lit corridors that the big Greek discovers he was not exactly alone (a difficult thing for most onboard many a military vessel), but loosely and distantly surrounded by four Sam units (three male, one female), all placed in such a manner that it is impossible to pass one and perform one's own tour of the one-of-a-kind starship from Earth's future without coming into contact with one. They all have their backs turned to the big-hearted Wild Card as if allowing him privacy, all save one - a Sam unit lackadaisically turns "his" head and addresses Herc in a pleased drawl that offers no hint of intrusion, but instead, succor.

"Heeey, Big Kahuna. Saw you head outta Drake's there like you needed it. Bummer, brah. If you, like, need anything just step up. Hang loose, brudda!" The Sam unit goes so far as to give a hand-sign to Hercules (the thumb on one hand extended as if giving a thumbs-up, turned horizontally with the pinky finger also extended, then shaken in a friendly manner). Then the Sam unit returns to an attention stance facing down the corridor. Hercules is cloaked by the silence of the Broadsword's hypercarbon hallways.

* * *​

As Hitomi finishes reading the contents of her laptop's screen, she makes the kind of face a person gets when they have discovered something they were not entirely expecting, but not entirely unexpecting either. Closing the laptop lid, the Polynesian-Japanese beauty moves her hands to her shoulders, hooks her fingers under the spaghetti straps of her dress, and easily lifts it from her uniformed figure. She lays the thin fabric across the flat of her laptop, straightens the backless outfit across it, and begins folding it in a practiced manner. It takes her several tries, but she never gives up. Finally, Hitomi smiles at the dress that has now been rolled into an item half-again the size of a typical can of Pepsi. With a satisfied grin, she places it back inside her now-bulging purse.

* * *​

Cera looks to Mack as if awaiting permission to step up next. It promises to be an unusual encounter between the Ura-Meltrandi Wild Card and the Beasties of the Broadsword.

 

[Silanon]

A moment of pondering before Ylva answers. "It's kinda weird, actually. You know, it should feel the same; but it really doesn't. Or didn't for me. Like, when you're up there in the sky, there's space everywhere around you. Down there... sure, there's plenty of space, too, but also tons of water right above your head. Feels different. Lonelier." Her eyes betray her excitement as she speaks. "Worth it, though. Grew up pretty much a stone's throw away from the ocean. Well, almost. Thought I knew it. And then I plunged in there, and there's an entirely different world just a few hundred meters below. Dark. Different. Always in motion. Everyone's dreaming of distant stars, and we haven't even figured out what's down there, really." A shrug. "Just got a glimpse, myself. We were mostly focused on stuff from above. Wrecks. Scraps. That sort of thing. Biology was just an afterthought. Guess most cool things are."

Most cool things don't help with keeping the malcontents at bay, after all. And from what they heard earlier, the worst is yet to come... this isn't the time for that, though. The Broo are proof of that. They faced those Invids, and are still the way they are now. A thing or two to learn, from that.

"So... a farm? Must've been way different from this." Her arm vaguely points out their surrounding. "Then again, what isn't. Kinda funny actually; some people manage to live ordinary lives, and then there's this."

 

[Purr]

( Captain Hesperus Taaaag! You're it!)

(Gang, I recommend you read this one carefully - there's a lot in it! As always, use Fat Gandalf's for OOC commentary, questions, etc.)

When it is time for the next Wild Card to take the stage, Faydra the Spirit-strong, War-chief of her tribe, is already staring at the confident Ura-Meltrandi in the UEEF uniform wearing the cocky smile in your group. The Broo quiet as red-eyed Cera walks slowly across the floor and stops where all can see her, all the while the shared stare of the two aliens never breaks, even as they speak.

"Cera. Ura-Meltrandi, second generation. Auxiliary specialist and Wild Card - the first and possibly last of my kind. May the foes of my War-queen Taniya ever tremble!"

As Cera's words carry across Drake's, every Broo watches her, some with suspicion, others with wonder, and yet others, like Bong the Shaman, with unreadable patience.

"Cera," Faydra's expression is one of unthreatened curiosity. "You... have body now. You no longer computa?"

Cera grins, her cherry red eyes aflame. "My years as the main computer program onboard my War-queen's flagship are over. I am mortal now."

"Why you small-Meltrandi now? Not normal-size?"

Cera counters. "Why are you the way you are? This is my War-queen's wish to make me this way. That is enough for me."

Faydra's muscular and womanly arms tense. "But you Ura-Meltrandi now aboard Broadsword. Why we no try to keeell each other now?"

"The Wild Cards and the Ura-Meltrandi have a non-aggression pact."

"What is?"

"As your people would word it, 'Taniya say 'We no kill each other. Leader Mack of Wild Card agree.' So we no fight."

A moment of quiet passes but there is little peace in it. Then Broo the Shaman with his lazy eyes asks. "No keeell Wild Card only? Not Broadsword?"

"Wild Card only."

Faydra and Bong glance meaningfully at each other.

"Heey!" a small and energetic female voice comes from inside a pack of Broo; it lacks the tension between the speakers. A tiny clawed hand reaches out and waves wildly. "I have ask! I can ask?"

"Beema..." Faydra identifies. "Ask once, Beema."

Beema pops out of the pile-o'-Broo.

Spoiler: Beema of the Tribe of the Star Watchers

This, but around 12 or 13 years old in terms of human appearance. Blonde hair/fur, soft orange eyes (a bright shade of orange unlike any other Broo present).

(Image credit: The incredible Dave Greco!)

She smiles wholeheartedly and it is contagious. There is a positive aura to this she-Broo that seems to go beyond even their typical level of enthusiasm. Her limbs are thin, her stance tall, and she appears to have the mannerisms of that high school student destined for Honors classes because she is just that talented and willing. Her voice is high and full of energy and there is a happiness about her that wreathes her like a cuddly blanket. She looks at each of the Wild Cards in the same way that canines do when they see someone they love - it is the happy greeting of unconditional fondness. And yet, the youngest-of-Broos mind seems filled to bursting! Beema's words come slowly, thoughtfully as she formulates her question for Cera who stands apparently ready for anything.

"Okaaay! Cera is Wild Card! Wild Card are like Drake! This mean maybe Cera has spirit-power like Drake, but no Ura-Meltrandi have power like Drake! It is true!" Beema concludes. "So Cera is with Wild Card because you no know how to use your power?"

This question causes Faydra to pause in surprise, Cera to stare and frown with irritation at Beema, and Bong to smile widely with great amusement. It is this moment that a drunken Captain Piper raises one groggy fist in victory. She shouts proudly and unashamedly, "Thaaat's myyy Beamerrr!"

"Hee hee! Beema love de Pie-pa!" Beema giggles in the pile of gathered Beasties.

Cera stays quiet for what feels like ages, and then admits with a rare sigh. "Yes. We Ura-Meltrandi of the second generation were nearly all wiped out by the Zeki-Zentraedi. I was broken in mind and spirit. With the help of the Broadsword's Mindbender, the Wild Cards restored me to full functionality and filled the gaps I was missing. Now, my War-queen Taniya wishes me to stay as one of their number and learn what it is to become a Traverser."

A collective "Ahhh!" comes over the Broo and a few familiar humans listening from the balcony.

Faydra nods slowly. "Ahhh. So Cera is Wild Card because Taniya no have answer. How could she have? Only Drake and Wild Card have answer - and Drake die. This leave Wild Card as only option." Faydra looks at each of you with what appears to be growing understanding. To you, Faydra says, "Broo no call Wild Card Traversers. Broo call you... Dreamstriders... for you stride de Dream World. Talk to spirits. Spirits talk to Wild Card."

"Like Commanda Kirin!" Beema shouts enigmatically.

"Shush, Beema," Faydra commands. Beema submits naturally and instantly.

Bong taps his clawed foot. "Faydra. If Cera here, then Taniya here. Taniya would no leave Cera here, even with Wild Card."

"Yah. Is true," Faydra licks her fangs. "Be strange not to fight Ura. Ally with Ura."

Cera's grin returns. "Faydra. I have a Scrath aboard." She lets the statement hang in the air.

"Which one?" Faydra asks.

"Who else? Unit One. We Wild Cards call her Iris."

Faydra turns to her tribe and says in a tone that brooks no argument. "Cera, Iris, allies of Wild Card! No hunt, no keeell! Undastand?"

"YOH!" all of the Broo respond as one and their shouts echo off of the well-traveled starship's walls. Then a cacophony of excited whispers, cackles, and excited talk of all kind erupt from the Broo as they collectively digest this news. This leaves you to speak as you will. Meanwhile, now sitting quietly beside Mario with a little medal on his chest, a certain Mega-damage kitten has watched all with golden unblinking eyes.

"I wanna go next!" he says with a boyish voice in your minds.

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Hercules stood in the circle of Sams and Samantha. He wasn’t sure what a ‘Kahuna’ was, nor if it’s size was important, but he let the concern slip past him. His mind was wrapped up in deeper worries.
So much strangeness, so much change. One day he was a soldier of the ASC, the next he was recorded as KIA, and now he was a marine in the UEEF. He had to contend with new commanders, a new base, new comrades and now a wily band of alien catfolk. The whole situation was quite overwhelming.

He ran a hand across his head, his close-cropped hair was getting more unruly, needing a trim. He sometimes missed his hair. Before he had enlisted, he had kept his hair shoulder-length. It was normally so black that it seemed blue-black in the Mediterranean sun, with a natural curliness and shine that were signature of Greek men.

He wasn’t quite sure how to take the Broo, their tribalistic ways and ebullient, but predatory, natures were unsettling. He couldn’t yet understand where they stood in the crew’s hierarchy but he hoped this would become plain in the near future.

Piper worried him too. Despite her cheerful demeanor, he could see the weight of her command and the monumental task she had inherited from Captain Drake were sitting heavily on her and he wanted nothing other than to support her.

And Hitomi... What could he say? What should he do? He liked her. Liked her a lot. The throbbing of his heart in his chest was stronger when she was near than it had ever been in his life, but what should he do? He had always been bashful around women, especially women he found attractive. Mama had always despaired she would never see grandchildren from him, even though his brothers and their wives were making concerted efforts to repopulate the world between themselves. To know that Lieutenant Kirin was also interested in Hitomi upset and worried him. Had he misread Hitomi’s... interests? Was she attracted to women or men? If he made his intentions known, would she crush his heart and his hopes by turning him down?

He sighed, a deep shoulder-sagging sigh and said quietly, “What will be, will be.”
He then spoke up, “I shall return back to the rest of my squadron. Thank you for the moment of solitude, friends.”
He slid his great frame between the mechanoids, patting them companionably on the shoulder as he went. He returned to the door of Drake’s, loosened his tunic collar slightly and entered again.

 

[Kaerri]

As Hitomi finishes reading the contents of her laptop's screen, she makes the kind of face a person gets when they have discovered something they were not entirely expecting, but not entirely unexpecting either. Closing the laptop lid, the Polynesian-Japanese beauty moves her hands to her shoulders, hooks her fingers under the spaghetti straps of her dress, and easily lifts it from her uniformed figure. She lays the thin fabric across the flat of her laptop, straightens the backless outfit across it, and begins folding it in a practiced manner. It takes her several tries, but she never gives up. Finally, Hitomi smiles at the dress that has now been rolled into an item half-again the size of a typical can of Pepsi. With a satisfied grin, she places it back inside her now-bulging purse.

Elinor watched the repacking with curiosity. That was most of the mystery solved. How it didn't wrinkle while all rolled up, would have to wait for a later time. She filed away a mental note.

Faydra nods slowly. "Ahhh. So Cera is Wild Card because Taniya no have answer. How could she have? Only Drake and Wild Card have answer - and Drake die. This leave Wild Card as only option." Faydra looks at each of you with what appears to be growing understanding. To you, Faydra says, "Broo no call Wild Card Traversers. Broo call you... Dreamstriders... for you stride de Dream World. Talk to spirits. Spirits talk to Wild Card."

That sounded pretty mystical to Elinor, and she found herself a little uncomfortable with it. Mysticism wasn't very scientific, and Elinor had an engineer's (and therefore scientist's) brain. Still, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," as someone* had said. Ultimately, Elinor supposed it was just another way of describing it. The Blue World (or Dream World if you were a Broo) was strange, but real. Likewise the Cores (or spirits). That would have to do for now.

A moment of quiet passes but there is little peace in it. Then Broo the Shaman with his lazy eyes asks. "No keeell Wild Card only? Not Broadsword?"

"Wild Card only."

"But we're part of Broadsword's crew now," Elinor pointed out. "So it carries over, right, because as Broadsword's defenders we aren't gonna just sit by and watch if someone, even your Ura-Meltrandi, attacks her." It was half-question, half-statement, and one Elinor felt should be addressed sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, now sitting quietly beside Mario with a little medal on his chest, a certain Mega-damage kitten has watched all with golden unblinking eyes.

"I wanna go next!" he says with a boyish voice in your minds.

"Soon as all the questions for Cera are done, little guy," Elinor advised with a glance at first Piper, then Mack and Faydra when that first glance reminded her that the acting-captain was, er, not quite herself at the moment.

He returned to the door of Drake’s, loosened his tunic collar slightly and entered again.

Elinor nodded a welcome to Hercules, but didn't call any other attention to his return (or leaving). Whatever his problem was, he'd sorted it well enough to come back, and that was good enough for her.

*Arthur C. Clarke, but Elinor wouldn't remember that.

 

[Sherwood]

Mario glances over at Hercules as he comes back into the room, wondering if the big man is ok. Perhaps I should try to talk to him when things are quiet once more. He is a fellow Wild Card, and we need to take care of our own and not just leave him to his own devices - unless he has a desire to be private.

 

[Psychie]

When Hercules leaves the room, Toph is not certain it was because of her comment about Hitomi, but she has a strong suspicion that what she said made an impact with the large man. Then, when he returns, she can almost see the storm clouds over his head. She feels bad about it, and resolves to talk to her friend and squad mate about what she said. Besides, in all the time that I've trained with Hitomi, I have never once gotten the vibe that she's interested in me in that way. He's got a much better shot at her than I do.

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Tag!

(Part 1 of 2)

Hitomi sits beside Professor Stein, a small grin upon her gorgeous face - if she is feeling anything deeply, she is keeping it where none can see and none can trespass. While the two whisper and chuckle the way old friends do. Nearby, Captain Sharp and Murph the Smurf make comments of their own and watch everything with open eyes and serious interest. Reggie Booty does too, looking honestly happy to be here, safe and among friends, with one wonder after another! All gathered in the balcony know - it is not every day one sits aboard a friendly starship from Earth's future with an audience that was willing to come to their past, to help save a race that doesn't even share their home planet.

A boyish voice meows in your minds, cheerfully and exuberantly. It is MechaKitten/Trouble and he sits proudly on a barstool placed where he can see all of the Wild Cards and Broo and they can see him. He has a beaming smile on his face and the Broo do not seem to treat him the way the rest of you do.

Mack points at Trouble. "Okay, Trouble! Introduce yourself and tell us something we don't know about you there, great Mewwoo!"

You see special interest spark in the gleaming eyes of the Beasties. They now stare at him in something that approaches awe. They huddle and cuddle together, touching each other's arms and sniffing each other's cheeks. Some climb on others and none seem to mind it. Yet all of them from the steely-eyed Faydra to bouncy little Beema are quiet until only the sounds of your movements fill Drake's.

Trouble replies, meowing and sending his voice into your minds simultaneously. Fondly, he admires his hard-won medal and looks up with boldness. "I iz... Trouble! I iz... Wild Card wif medal! An'..." he seems to think really hard. Finally, he happily adds, "...I like feeesh!"

Almost as one, you watch the entire gathering of Beasties get mildly annoyed. Their ears droop, their eyes narrow, and Faydra puts her hands on her hips. "We knooow daaat! Tell new, not old!"

"Oh, ah..." Trouble stumbles. "Oh! I know!" He starts again and with even more attempt at drama. "Dere is something about Earth and me yooou doez not knooow!

"Ohhh?" the Broo lean forward.

"Yes, I come to haaalp Broadsword! Yes, I come to saaave Earth from da monstas! But do you know why Earth so special?!" His eyes positively glitter.

Several Beasties answer. "Because Earth like Terrestria!" "Because is human homeworld!" "Because monsta want something here!"

"Eeeven better!" Now the four-legged little fellow is practically dancing on the barstool in eagerness. "Earth iz 70% waaater! Don't you knows what dat meeeans?"

The Broo stare back blankly. Some shrug and look eager for the answer.

"Mooore feeesh!" replies the salivating MechaKitten. "Dere iz even more feeesh on Earth than on Terrestriaaa! Meeooowoowoo!"

"OOOooh!!" reply the Broo with genuine interest and much licking of lips.

Flat on her back on a table near the middle of all this and surrounded by caring Broo, Piper drawls, "An' here I was... thinkin' he was gonna say something wise again. *hic* Fat chance!"

But there Trouble goes, now flat on his own back, little kitty feet pawing the air as he dreams and dreams of all manner of tasty sea-life. "FeeEEeeesh!" he repeats - a kitten in a daze.

 

[Purr]

(Part 2 of 2)

With all of the Wild Cards introduced to the Broo, the question comes up as Faydra asks, "Pie-pa is... off-duty. So who lead Broadsword?" This is a question the nearby Beasties immediately perk their ears to. Some eyes look to Mack while yet others drift towards Toph. The silence grows as none of the Beast People seem to know the answer.

"That would be me!"

The strong and commanding voice of Captain Sharp calls down from the balcony. There he is with a small smile on his face as he examines the Broo. His mouth is smiling, but his eyes are all business.

Beside Hiram Sharp, Murphy winces and mutters at him. "Good goin', Top. You done made a target outta yerself now!"

"Who you?" the Broo demand.

"I am Captain Sharp!"

"Captain Shaap?" Beema asks inquisitively. "What you do?"

And right then, a huge hush comes over the Broo as they all look up to a human they have hardly seen at all until now. He stands tall like a monument, looking as sturdy as any good tank, the very pinnacle of what leadership should look like. And while he is what he seems to be, the Broo do not know him and a measure of tension begins to flow at Beema's expression of curiosity, one the entire tribe present shares.

"Me?" Captain Sharp finally answers, his bold voice echoing through the bar. "What else does a Broadsword captain do?" He raises his fists above his head and declares mightily, "I keeell de monstaaa!!"

The Broo just about explode in deafening cheers, shrieks, and bestial sounds of savage happiness. They jump up and down, banging on tables, raising their swords in the air, smiling up at him as if this declaration was all they needed to hear. His presentation is such that Hitomi bursts into applause with Professor Stein nodding emphatically. Reggie claps with hands over his head and cheers. Down below, Piper nods and says something but no one can hear it. Mack shouts, "Ooh rah!" and even Cera seems impressed.

"Okay, everyone!" Captain Sharp addresses all present. "Introductions are over and we have a dinner to prepare. Lieutenant Mack!"

"Sir?"

"Ask Sam to take you to the mess and start preparing that spaghetti we've been hearing about!" Captain Sharp looks straight at Mario with a confident expression that seems to say, "Take it away, Zuko!"

"Aye aye, sir!"

The music kicks up again. The first few notes and beats play the melody and the Broo, immediately recognizing the song, let out a new series of cheering yowls, howls, and inanities as they seem to expect something big and they want it now! A dozen hands go reaching for Faydra to lead some kind of dance on the stage. Faydra looks to you and smiles. "Excuse," she says with a huge grin as she is half-escorted, half-pulled to center stage.

Spoiler: This is the music

"If You Need Someone" by Tom Bailey (of the Thompson Twins).

From the balcony, Captain Sharp smiles, liking what he sees. Hunkered down behind a chair as if he were waiting for things to be thrown at Sharp, sits Murphy. He peers up to Sharp and shakes his head, his moustache waving. "Goddamn it, Top," he grunts in Murphy-style admiration. "One'a these days yer gonna hafta tell me just how you get away with this shit!"

* * *​

Spaceman Sam agrees to Captain Sharp's request and takes you all to the Mess Hall (see #11 on the link). As you make your way there, you realize you have a little blonde-haired follower running down the hall after you. It is Beema. She is breathless and seems to have a million (or two) questions to ask you or answer, depending on how conversations go. In the hallway, watching her depart is Bong the Shaman. Mack pauses as if to ask a question when Bong nods to her.

"Is okay. Beema baby-shaman of Tribe of Star Watcher. She go everywhere on Broadsword. If she bad-Broo, you send her to me."

"I no bad Broo!" Beema declares with her huge contagious smile. She really seems to be a big bundle of positive goodness. The skinny little Broo begins reaching her hands up to each one of you like a canine eagerly begging for play as if playing with you is the most important thing the universe has to offer her. Cera folds her arms and tries to ignore her, but Mack looks up from carrying Trouble (whom she absconded with just prior to your departure from Drake's) looks to each of you as if wanting your take.

The blonde ball of hyperactive energy continues to bounce. "Hey! I climb you? Pick Beema up? Pleeease?"

Whether you do or not, the Wild Cards arrive in the Mess Hall with 3 more Sam units (for a total of 7) standing beside familiar-looking cargo containers. The spaghetti dinner is on!

 

[Sherwood]

While Mario is not used to cooking for so many, he is still game to show off his cooking skills for the team. He starts out looking around the mess hall to get a feel for where everything is in there so he can give directions to the Sams that will be his helpers. Once he is confident that everything he will need is there in sufficient quantities to make this work, the Italian rolls up his sleeves and gets to work making his spaghetti dinner.

He goes to each of the Sams working with him and gives each one a task to do to make this dinner happen. As they work, Mario is busy examining the ingredients to ensure proper quality.

"Hamburger? No, I don't think so. We're using mild and hot Italian sausage. It actually has flavor compared to the bland nature of ground beef."

"That is not nearly enough garlic. I want us to be vampire proof once we are done with dinner."

"Mmmm, needs a bit of sugar. I know, it sounds crazy to add sugar to spaghetti, but trust me. You'll love it."

"Lets get the angel hair pasta cooking. It gives a better texture than the other types of pasta."

"We need garlic bread. Can't have a pasta dinner without garlic bread."

No pot of sauce goes to the table without getting Mario's stamp of approval. After all, his reputation is on the line here. He is not going to let his family down by serving a less than awesome dinner.

Finally, after all the time letting the sauce simmer and allowing the smell to fill the mess hall, he is satisfied with the results, but he's not going to tell everyone that. "Ok, gang! Spaghetti is on the table. I wish to say that if it were my mom cooking this, it would taste a whole lot better since she is the expert in the kitchen, but I hope that you are all satisfied with how I've done in recreating her work of art. Please, dig in and enjoy!"

He stands back for a few moments to give everyone a chance to dive into the dinner he's made and see their expressions as they taste his culinary concoction, a wide smile on his face. He sincerely hopes that everyone likes his work.

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Hercules couldn’t help but be caught up by Beema’s enthusiasm, to the point he answered as many of her questions as he could and even allowed her to scale his mighty frame to perch on his shoulder like a curious cat.

Once in the mess, he goes full business mode, acting as sous chef to Mario’s chef de cuisine. He prepped the pasata and chopped the Italian sausage. He grated fresh Parmesan cheese until it was a virtual mountain of pungent hard cheese flakes. When the order came ‘more garlic’, he skinned, chopped and diced two whole heads and dumped them into the sauce. All through this, he hummed to himself, cheerful to be in a kitchen preparing good food.

 

[Psychie]

Toph is less confident in the kitchen than either Mario or Hercules, but she can work a knife well enough to jump in and help dice up veggies if needed. "Just tell me what you need, and I'll do my best not to mess it up!"

 

[Silanon]

Some people are at home between stove and kitchen sink. Others are happy enough to just warm up ready meals over a Bunsen burner. In moments like these, Ylva would prefer to be at least a bit of the former, and less of the latter. But alas, life leads people along different paths, and not everyone can share the enthusiasm that both the initiator and the towering giant display at work. That doesn't mean that the Swede stays out of it; just that she picks her battles carefully, and lets the others put their expertise to good use. Only so many people can stir up the pot, while many can free good food from its prison. She does so with calm precision and the care of someone who handled enough things that wouldn't just leave a greasy stain when spilled - years in the labs teach lessons after all.

"You need anything, you let me know. Looking good, though." That describes both the ingredients, and the efforts to turn them into something worth the previous hype. Just takes a look over at the garlic's rapid processing to know that she's better off taking care of the basics.

 

[Sherwood]

Mario is quite happy with the offers of assistance from the others, especially when cooking for so many people. "Thanks for the help, everyone! I could have done it on my own, but the team working together will make this even better. A real treat, worthy of Grandma Zuko. Well, maybe not quite that good, but close enough that our taste buds won't know the difference!" He seems quite happy in the kitchen, even if he is just a rank amateur. "Maybe I should take some time to watch a few cooking videos from Rachel Ray or Alton Brown from the old Food Network. This is kinda fun!"

 

[Kaerri]

Spoiler: Elinor Hall

Elinor's character sheet
Action Points: 8/8
Bonus action point: 1

Elinor also joins in the prep. Her previous experience is largely of the "Do what Grandma says and stay out of her way" variety, but that works just fine here, if you replace "Grandma" with "Mario." She chops, or unpacks, or thaws, or what-have-you, as directed, and stays out of the way of those who know their way around the kitchen a lot better than she does.

"I dunno, Mario," she teases, "with this much unpackin' and this many people to cook for, while I don't doubt you could do it, it might be tomorrow's dinner you end up with. More hands, less work, right?" More seriously she adds, "You want I should start cleaning up behind you? Just say what you're done with, and I'll take over the dirty dishes." She glances at the nearest Sam to make sure that's OK, then looks around for a sink. What if Broadsword doesn't actually have a sink, but some fancy-shmancy cleaning thingy?

 

[Purr]

Before the cooking begins on the way to the Mess Hall...

Captain Hesperus

Spoiler: This little scene brought to you by...

"The Trip" by Still Corners

Hercules couldn’t help but be caught up by Beema’s enthusiasm, to the point he answered as many of her questions as he could and even allowed her to scale his mighty frame to perch on his shoulder like a curious cat.

Beema climbs up Hercules's massively-muscled frame like a slow-moving squirrel scaling some new kind of tree. Her fingers and toes reach and clench onto surfaces on Hercules's body as if she were going up a mountainside (which, in a sense, she is). Never once do her sharp claws extend for better grip. Once up to his right shoulder, the spritely little Beastie pauses to pat Hercules's arm and then she turns to look him in the face. Beema's strange orange eyes stare into Hercules's for one long moment. She blinks rapidly, then ceases blinking and without further warning a gentle orange glow like that of a dawning sun from afar rises from her eyes. "Ah!" she smiles and that smile is ever present. She has seen something in Hercules's eyes and finds that she likes what she sees in there.

Her little chest rises and falls rabbit-like, for she cannot contain her excitement. Her nose moves as she sniffs in the giant Greek's scent. She moves forward a touch and then there it is - a soft brush of her cheek against his - some strange show of Broo affection. Then she is up behind his mammoth shoulders and down, lying with her knees on his left shoulder and her elbows on his right, her torso comfortably curled behind his neck in a way that would probably be uncomfortable to humans, but not to young girlish Broo who apparently have no spinal cords to get in the way of their Hercules-climbing.

Once she is perched here, breathless Beema the Chatterbox begins to babble off a dozen questions and comments ranging from, "How Hur-kyoo-leez grow so big?" "Hur-kyoo-leez is Zen-zen like Toph Kirin is Ura?" "Or he is human? You smell human!" to "How long you know you is Dreamstrider?" "Someone teach you?" "You like to keeell de monsta little or lots?" "No worry about Sheesa. She always like that," and "What you think of Dream World? You can see in there yet?" "What you think of Pie-pa an' Wwarlock? Numba One or Numba Ten?" "I be great shaman of Tribe of Star Watcher someday! Mind-wise, clear-eye, sure-heart. Masta Bong teach me. You think I be so too?"

It is only when she thinks only Hercules can hear her that she leans in, her mouth close to his ear. It is here that Beema the Broo really attempts to begin their relationship with a keen observation and a heartfelt request. She whispers one sentence at a time, then peers to see his reaction, then speaks again. This continues until at last she has made her request.

"Beema watch. Beema see. Hur-kyoo-leez say he no scare of..." then her voice alters, tries to deepen, tries to become very masculine and it is there that the Son of Papadopolis hears her spot-on rendition of the words he proudly provided just minutes ago in Drake's. "'Hercules fears nothing, no man, no monsta, no machine!'" For those few moments, she even has his accent down pat. "But..." Beema pauses to peek at him. "...is not true! I see Hur-kyoo-leez sing true to dark-hair she-human who has the sexy! She dance and sway beautiful like fiery wind above moonlit water. Hur-kyoo-leez see her true. He see her an' leave Drake's. So Beema say Hur-kyoo-leez scare of sexy she-humans!"

Another orange-eyed peek. "But Beema no have sexy. You see?" Beema clamps her ankles around Hercules's bicep and pulls her girlish upper body before him clad only in some leathery poncho-like top that makes no sound when it moves. She becomes momentarily distracted and in a single moment, the young Broo looks at her budding breasts and her face seems to curiously ask them, "So at what point in my life do you get bigger?" Then as quickly as the thought comes, it is gone and Beema is back whispering into his face. Her mouth is smiling but her face seems to plead.

"No sexy for Hur-kyoo-leez to be scare of here. Beema want be Hur-kyoo-leez friend so... no be scare of Beema, okay? Please?"