Roll  sat  down.. then  thought and handed Haley his  stuff and  scrambled way to the stalls..  He  came back  with one of the Hotel guys   following  him and Pointed to Tess and Thor.

 the  Guy  put   down a big foil  pan  and  filled it with  leftovers  and  some fresh cuts of  meat  was well as  some ground meat from the 'taco -things"


Tess looked at the Guy and thumped her tail as he   smiled and   moved back,, ..Roll , gently   moved  Thor over to teh  tray  and  the wee beastie started to get some of the ground  meat, while tess   at the bigger  stuff.

  Mr Shadow  always   make sure people have food at the table  when we sit by him...so..we hafta make sure Thor and Tess have some too!

She smiled.  Roll was so smart she thought and nice "True...It was bad mannered of me to forget them." she watched Thor get about as much meat on him as in him.

"Who said I was talking about the ball?" Roy asked Lyri, with a grin.  He didn't often get a chance to get Shadow riled up, and he wasn't going to go out of his way to exploit it.  But he damn-sure wasn't going to let the chance go by without saying something...

After the exchange about the street punks, Roy was about to chime in, agreeing with Shadow...nothing said 'not worth screwing with' like a high body count, especially if any of their buddies were watching and saw it wasn't even a prepared engagement for the ESN troops...when the Nivarians came up and expressed their concern.

He laughed.  "We don't have to control them...Larry will do it, if they start to get carried away.  Remember, we're partners with them, not overlords...they don't have to be under control at every moment.  They've fought hard, just like everyone else, and they should have some time to run out all the excess energy, just like everyone else.  Besides, I don't think largs get a whole lot of open-water swimming on Nivar or the Green Moon...it's a new experience.  Let them enjoy it.  If they get over-stimulated and start to get carried away, Larry will get them back in line."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:59, Wed 14 Oct 2020.

  Shadow  gave  Roy a tilt of his ehad and , once more the  arms  went out,

  After Roy answered Disna and Puskie,  Shadow's nod  agreed. we only had  one   'bad' incident'..Some Bio techs  were using a  'squid thing' to spy on us at the  beach and  Larry..well...sorta  ate most of it..The  Demanded  we  turn LArry over to them, in recompense,Needless to say, they  didn't  get what they wanted...

 Puskie looked at Shadow...You didn't  kill the Bio techs did you?

 Beth Giggled,..he thought about it...

 Lyri pointed to the  Grass. Some of the Naragrans  were  sitting  like  boulders on the Grass letting the   Sun warm them,  far up the beach a pair of them were  in the water , lookign  around.

 ..Looks Like everyone likes  the Beach...

..or the Sun?... I understand the Burians  allowed  a few hundred Naragrans to colonize the Heavy Jungle areas to the south of the Capitol ...Thier  Bio-techs think the addition  of Naragrans will help some of the  smaller species  regain thier  foothold on Bura, after UEs and and Some of the Largran 'Rat Folk' were released...

 Not far from them   Larry   was chasing Gregor   along the  surf, they  had to  weave in  and out of  bunched people and kids..Gregor   Ran up Hool's Back   and  launch himself into the  air    coming   down 20 yards or  so into the   water..Now he had Larry and Hool after him!

  Henry could see the beasties  runnign  about, nor were the Naragrans hard to miss.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:54, Wed 14 Oct 2020.

Henry was happy to play with the largs in the water, rolling Freddie over seeing as he'd come over to nudge him, then joining in the general chasing and splashing. Sometimes he was a bit of a big kid, really.

  Shadow  Looked  at Steele,You still here?

 ..Um..well.... I was  hoping  for a good   answer, that might point us to the right direction ...

  Lyri looks  at  Gigi.....seriously?..you didn't even know him a whole day yet?

 beth   adds  with a coy smile,..see that chick with a color changing  Swimsuit?  That's Raven..they were  , more or less, toegther, for the last 4 years  , give or take a Month...

 Gigi  looked at Raven who was playign Vollyball.. Ladies  against Guys,  , Raven kept  in Shape...

 ..I don't know?..Nark seems so nice and...

 ..You know?  If you guys  get  married..right now..or sometime before  we cast off... 1 of three things have to happen... 1... You have to  come aboard  the  Hermes  and Live in the  Civie section..I guees  Steele  would have to move there  as well. Civies  can't share crewman's  quarters...

 2nd?   Steele  would  have to get a transfer to  Everest.. and what you guys  do from there, would be up to you and the fleet?

 ..Lastly?  You would stay here... and Steele  would  ship  out....and in that case, we'd have to send you  to Bura  anyway.

Steele frowned.

Shadow pointed to  Roy  , then the  two ladies , I don't know  what's goig on Steele/..I really, really don't..I don't know whether  Roy is right...But i think GiGi, being a woman and all, would put things together , one way or another, after knowing how long you and   Raven spent together. My Advice?.. wait until we go to Bura next time.. Gig  will be safeer  there then anywhere else, and if things  don't last over the distance? Its better to  find Out  now.

 Steele looked at Roy, after seeing  Beth and Lyri nodding.

Zob nodded before glancing around, "So any plans for the rest of the day Jax or you just gonna hang around the beach?" Zob was contemplating what he was gonna do for the rest of the day considering he wasn't invited to go to the big ball as far as he knew.

Roy nodded.  "Unless you miraculously changed your stripes sometime last night, I'm pretty sure you've already consummated the relationship."  There was, remarkably, no sarcasm in the statement, just a frank analysis.

"So unless you're seeing Golden BBs when you look in the mirror and she's somehow convinced you that she should be your beneficiary, there's no reason to rush.  We can get her to Bura so she's safe without you having to tie the knot, and if you actually do have some magical connection that requires you to be wed in order to fulfill it, then it'll hold for a few months."  He gave her a frank look that had nothing to do with the bathing suit she was almost not wearing, and added, "Don't forget, she showed up at the party last night looking to bed Shadow, for her own protection.  We're just trying to make sure she's actually THAT enchanted by you, and not just hedging her bets."  He was absolutely unapologetic about any discomfort she might have displayed at being discussed so openly, yet as if she wasn't even there.

  Steele  looked at Shadow... Shadow shrugged.

  ..so? we're just goign to let her get shipped off to Bura  and  run   be  stuck on a planet with  all those  green folks?

 ..Nothing  wrong  with Bura... I plan  on goign to earth. play  10 seasons or so for the Jeys ...if there is still an earth... then retire  to either   Fuji or Bura?.... and if I retire  to Fuji, you can bet  i'll take  some  vacation to Bura..

 Gigi looked more then a Little embarrassed But Beth  and Shadow  had been there when Steele 'got the call' to attend her.

 what happens if some  one kills her before the Fleet leaves...

 then?  she won't have to go to Bura... They Both looked at Shadow and the cold  tone of his Voice.

 why  can't I just take her to the Ship and..

NO!.... and Shadow pointed at  Roy..and he can tell you why, but..gods be damned,,no one should have to tell you..

.....................

 Jax said,I'm Going  with Sneak?... The Captain said she  can get a dress too.. and I have   my dress uniform..finally, i won't have to borrow  bits  and Pieces.. If yiou aren't  going   with  Melia. you could  come as a SEC trooper?

"Tell me something, Steele...how is marrying her in a hurry going to provide her any additional protection against getting killed here?  Because we've had too damned many times where some new 'guest' on board was there to kill someone, or sabotage something, or they stole the news van and packed it with explosives planning to blow it up on the dock next to the boarding ramp."

He looked at Gigi with eyes cold enough to create icicles.  "There's no way in hell, married to you or not, that she's coming aboard the Hermes without a thorough background check.  She can get aboard a transport to Bura easy enough with her current ID and a basic check to make sure she's not wanted for anything aboard the station.  She might even be able to finagle a fake ID, especially if she knows the right security people to pay off."

He turned his eyes to Steele.  "But if you're so damned certain that being her spouse will keep her safe, then you better be prepared to transfer to Everest, or pull a Case and resign your commission, because the Hermes will be leaving before her background check would be done.  And those are your options, unless you want to go AWOL and risk desertion charges."  He shook his head, with a look of distaste.

"I've known you long enough to understand that it's hard for you to get your head out of your ass, but you really better try on this one.  Get her on a ship to Bura.  If you two still love each other by the time the Hermes makes it there again, then great...more power to you, get married.  Hell, I'll even pay for the rings if it'll make you feel better.  But you're setting yourself up for a shitload of trouble if you keep going this route...the kind of trouble that can easily get you killed, and without the fighting chance you have in a cockpit."

  GiGi  looked troubled and angry...they said you were a Hero.. and you helped  people! she glared  at  Shadow.

beth sat up a bit  at the Galre, Lyri  just slowly  turned her  head towards her   as looked as she chewed   on her hot dog/

 Shadow pointed to Can.. he was dead asleep..didn't matter , about talking, hollering.. thumps of  feet and Balsting music..he was asleep..a tiny smile on his face , covered with beths   thin beach robe.

 ..See this  kid... look at him....nothing to his name in The Whole of the Black, except  soe  clothes  strangers bought him  and his life... and he thought he was going to be demon food..he..flat gave up and sat there, waiting  for some one to grab him?  Nice
 Hells..maybe your brother was one of them

 she flinched

 now you?  all those creds  and you have to run and ask for help..you have everything in the world  you could  want..but in the end?  you're not any better off them him... except..he's gonna be glad to reach Bura..Creds or no creds? you're gonna have to strt all over./

 Now go and  keep up your act....and Steele, i promise you this.. she sets one  foot on the hermes, with out  Captain Morris approval, you'll make Maris look like he died in his sleep...

   what started out  with One Kid, become an 'on going' wave of   Little  kids, one or two at a time, seemingly   making thier  way through the  beach...

  Henry..was  surpsied  by the kids  as  they would  spot  and   run over    and   giving him a crushing  hug... and, if/when they   saw Mila , hug her , or pet her if they could.

 Largs  that were resting  would  find themselevs  bing   squeezed and petted, Freddie and larry and even gregor seemed to take iit in stride... while the 'new   Hermes Largs'.. were confused  at first, but thumping   tails showed, they really didn't mind.

 Skiffle found   Roy and Gave him a Hug, her face showed  happiness and relief , but her  eyes  were still a bit haunted.

  Zob... was surprised by Sly and  Light  as they gave  him hugs..knowing the  big demon had  helped the others   save them on the Stem dock.

  Shadow smiled    looking   over at Zob, then  seeing Roy getting  accosted , he got up  to go to the water..

 Giving Steele  and GiGi  one last look he said,..not all of our pay, is in creds!

 he jogged off towards the water   A few of  the lady  Pilots  getting  up and  vectoring in on him from his  7 and 5 o'clock!

  Gigi looks at Beth.. Beth shrugs,..look?  Chickie? You're not getting on The Hermes, and if you get on  without clearance.. you and whom ever helped you will have to walk all the way back to Fuji to explain why .... You're  damn lucky.... you'er gonna get to  pick out  Angel silk!..you'er going to the   Ball with a guy who is, half decent looking, and you'er as safe as you can get..don't  screw that up...because the Delta Fleet tries to help folks..but man... will you get stepped on if you try to screw us over.

Roy was initially surprised by the hug, but it quickly gave way to a grin as he returned it.  As Skiffle returned to playing, he looked over at Gigi.

"You see, Steele, that's the problem with helping rich, entitled people.  That kid?  She was already in custody.  If I'd decided to wait another five minutes, she might be on her way to a Demon larder right now.  We run her through a basic medical check up, give her some food, and pack her in a room full of other kids, sleeping on the floor, and she's grateful."

His face twisted in distaste as he continued.  "Now, your 'beloved' was never in custody...she came to ASK for help, when she probably could have bought her way off the station.  But, hey...why pay for something the Delta Fleet is giving away, right?  She got free food...better stuff than the kids got, probably, since she was eating from the Admiral's table.  She got a luxury room and her own boy-toy bodyguard...and she's upset that she can't get more."

He looked at Steele again, this time without any judgment...the most open, concerned look he'd ever spared the pilot.  "And you want to marry that?  Someone who's always going to be asking for more, who can't be content with what she got?"  He shook his head and looked away again, watching the wave of kids giving out hugs throughout the beach.

"I admit, I don't know the first thing about being married...but that sounds like a great recipe for misery, to me."

In reply to beach (msg # 48):

Zob shrugged his shoulders, "Will see what happens if she wants me to go i will tag along and also if we have another scuffle like last time... don't hesitate just shoot em" he then patted him on the shoulder before heading back to get his clothes when he reached his chair he was surprised by hugs of all things as he looked down and saw the children he gave them a gentle pat on the head as he watched them run off.

After that was over he headed back to get changed into a off duty uniform and went down to the garage to grab his hoverbike and took off to the lowers to go shopping.

------> To Everest

  Steele  and  Gigi went off towards the  Stalls to get a drink and eats.

 Beth blew her bands out of her  face, Man..you called that... sheesh.... he  had Steele hook up with her with the Admirals  standing  there....sure looked like you had it pegged...

 Shadow waved   as he walked to the  water...

  another  Kid  came up and  looked at Can...why doesn't he want to play...he can sleep anytime!

Roy had a moment of concern...it was true, Can could sleep anytime and the chance to play on the beach was a rarity on the scale of finding unicorns for the kids.  He reached over, placing a hand on Can's forehead to feel for fever, and watching the rhythm of his breathing, even as he pasted a calm, unconcerned look on his face.

"He hasn't had a moment to be at peace for a long time," Roy explained.  "His group ran off and left him behind, and it's probably not the first time.  Right now, he doesn't have to be on guard...nobody's going to grab him, nobody's going to steal anything from him, he's part of the biggest, baddest group on the station and nobody's leaving him behind.  For the first time...maybe ever...he can relax and sleep without having to worry about being on guard for gangers, streeters, fake Sec troopers snatching kids, his group deserting him..."  Roy gave a sad, tired grin.

"Sometimes sleeping secure like that is more important than playing."  It shouldn't be, for a kid...but that's the world we live in, I guess...

Henry was indeed surprised at how many youngsters wanted to hug him, but he certainly wasn't going to turn them away so hugged back.

 Meari danced and had a great time, she saw Stiffle the grenade girl with Roy, she smiled and walked over to her. Hello Stiffly, are you having fun, this is my first time on a beach like this I have trained for war my whole life, but this is fun. You did great and should be very proud, abd I am honored to meet you Stiffle.  Are you hungry have you eaten? Meari was genuine and smiling she did kneel down some so as not to too intimidating.

  The Kid, who  they hadn't seen before , looked a bit   rough, he had a fading black and Blue mark  on his forehead..

 My name  Is Fetch?  That guy  with the Dog and largs  saved us  from being cut up and turned into  monster things?.... I met Can when the  Nutty  guy  ran him down to the  water... we're over there  , the older kids , they are makign a big starbase in the sand, like we  see on the vids in the park?... Tell him to come over...

 Lyri smiled,we will... sometimes your body knows what you need , more then your Head does... You guys are going to be  down here  until late tonight...there's goignto be a bar-b-que and  fires and  such!... so, you'll have time to play together...

 The   Kid smiled  and ran  abck to the  'construction site'..

 Beth Giggled,..nutty guy....

 i'm more concerned with..'cutting up and being made into monsters.."

........

 Stiffle  smiled a bit, her eyes  still showed sadness,can i have another  hotdog with that string sours  stuff on? she asked Meari.

..........

 Val came over in her  tight fitting one piece,..you may feel a bit odd with the 'warriro Prof'  tag?...But how many of  your peers can say they saved  over  100 stem kids in the course of  a hour or so?

 Larry  and other  Lrgs, though, to be fair, they didn't stop often... would be swarmed by the  kids  from the mountain, being Petted   and hugged( as much as little arms could hug a larg).

  The   'new" largs  took thier  cues from Larry and Freddie , who  say tolerantly as they were   showered with  thanks and  affection...thumping tails betrayed  their 'like' for it.

  Tess , Nudged  Thor over to Roll and  Haley to watch over   while she   sauntered over to the water  for a swim.

 Roll      Picked up Thor  who was   'roaring '   but his  little  tail thumped  against Haley

 Meari smiled at Stiffle and said, Of course you can Stiffle you can have as many as you want. Come lets get you another sour hotdog. I do not know what they call it either. I am Udenese I am not human, don't be afraid of me Stiffle. Meari gives Stiffle a hug takes her hand and they head for the hot dog area, Meari gets one a a cool lemonade as well. Stiffle would you like a drink as well, and don't be sad you are safe now.

Henry gave Val a frankly admiring look.

"You look fantastic, darling."

He didn't want to compare the vision before him with his 'dad bod' stuffed into a pair of board shorts.

"This is a far better environemt for youngsters than underground cages and an uncertain fate. And if I have to be the 'warrior professor', that's how I want to operate, rescuing people who need it. Most of my peers moan about a stack of papers to mark!"

Roy shrugged.  "You saw how much of a beachhead the Creshians had managed to make here...pretty sure they didn't ship all those things in, even with Stem docks available."  He didn't sound happy about it...but his lack of reaction to the comment about being cut up and turned into monsters spoke volumes about his lack of surprise.

Satisfied that Can was still asleep because he was genuinely exhausted and not as a symptom of illness, he ruffled the boy's hair gently, a fond smile on his face (and, perhaps just a moment of envious appreciation in his eyes).  "Gotta say, when I enlisted, winding up in the far reaches of known space watching kids play on the beach was not at all where I expected to ever wind up."

  Beth  smiled  as  she  brought her  knees up to her chin watching  Kids... seeing Henry and Val with  kids  splashing around... here  and there Largs   scampered about...some  starting to  understand the 'begging  for  food  thing" was easy!

 The Academy   told us, the stations were   built to help defend   the Black...., and to extent  the Human race beyond  the Sol System..never  Imagined   beaches  and Mountains and seas?...its like a puzzle?.. all the  things you want  and need, mixed with  things you are perfecting... sea creatures.. water   creations, crops food sources?...

 Lyri sighs as she lay back on her  elbows,..no one is addressing the LArg in the Bath Tub...

 Beth  turned her  head.

  Doc Christie  cleaned out that Mountain last time.. same kinda  testing. except it was animals, not kids....anyone wonder how that Moutnain got  another Lab going, without ever  being  check on?

 Shoey and Nagy  came  runnign over, they were both sweated up from Volleyball..shoey sported   some lipstick marks on his neck..

 Hey!!..SM..is it true?  There's Gonna me  a Big Name show up at the Ball?

 beth  looked a him, returning her chin to her  knees....Shoey?..the whole fleet  is 'big names..' her  one hand loosened its  grip  and waved to cover them, and the rest of the Beach.

 Nagy  smiled as she  checked out the two  Ladies.

 Naw!..you know what i mean..some one   who isn't us!

 Lyri  cocked her ehad a  bit and said,seriuosly?  who can be  bigger then the Admrial?

  Skiffle   followed    her to one of the  cookie stalls  and Pointed  to 'sauerkraut'...that stuff.. i like it with the hotdogs and that red stuff on....

 she nodded her head  as she  said,I want one of those  dark sodas?... but i don't know what they are  called..sometimes we  would  find  Cups that were half  full..some taste differant..i do not like the ornage colored ones...

..............

 Val  stood in the water  with Henry, nodding towards Tess who was slowly entering the water and   swimming slowly.I think her  birthing was hard on her?... she  is movign around more... Look at  Thor, he  fell asleep across  Roll and Haley's laps!

 sure enough,  Thor's hea was on  Roll's  lap, and his   back  half on Haley's    as  he  layed thier in the  sun with his eyes  closed.

...............

 Not  far away   CE-VA   popped up in another Update for the delta Fleet...  So?  You think you know all about the delta  Personailtie ...keep your  eye on the screen..... LC Shadow is Lifting  Lt  Frans and LT  Eckles  on his shoulders..not that impressive?.. while,, was  I back off the Camera.. we  see. SGT Lirg His Holding  Up Shadow!... and.... if that's Not  Enough..she backs out  More..PVT Nugest, the  Apefolk Rep to the Hrmes
  has   LirG On his shoulders!!!

 Mara  stood  in the front, moving her  arms like a Game show host ... when  a smallish Larg  came    flying  through and     hit  into   Nugest.  Causing the  whole group to Fall into the   water  with a giant splash.. the CAM caught the splash  and   the dozens of kids who were laughing  and pointing.. and the  little   Larg trying to swim away from Shadow..

 Mara Looked at the Cam...um... That was Cadet Gregor...

 CE-VA smiled at the  screen as she said...More Updates coming!

Roy shrugged.  "Damned if I know, Shoemaker...I hadn't even heard the rumor, so you know more about it than I do, at this point."

He turned back to Lyri.  "I have my suspicions, but it's not my place to bring them up here.  Already mentioned them to Admiral Hack and he's got similar suspicions."

He sighed and shook his head.  "Without a thorough review of station logs, reports, and orders, it's highly speculative.  The fact that a Creshian hybrid was in charge of ANYTHING on the station raises a lot of serious questions..."