HPU: Apollo City

[Deske]

The two made their way the ticketing counter and proceeded to get their ticketing information synced to Enrique's wristband and Miguel's memory bank. "Well, I think I'm going to go find something to eat. Feel free to do whatever, but be back here before the play starts."

Miguel gave him a nod as they parted ways once more.

[valerio]

"Anything, huh," Francis mused. "Perhaps we ought to go British? Steak & Kidney Pie, Cottage Pie, Cumberland Sausage and Mash, Black Pudding and beans... Everything with chipped Potatoes." He chuckled. "Fancy that or shall we go Italian? Most of which I can't pronounce."

"English will be just fine. I think that Italian dinner is so cliché, by now. And for some reason, too many pets think that romatic dinner involves spaghetti and meatballs."

[Welsh Halfwit]

He gave her a sly smile. "I thought that was just Canines? And they never used forks either. So where, good anidroid, for British fare?"

[Hlaoroo]

"My database shows that the White Stag Public House has good reviews and it's just a few doors down from the theatre. Do you wish me to escort you or would you prefer I sent you a map so that you can find your own way?"

~~~~~~~~
"Either this is a pets-only restaurant or it's... Shall we say, somewhat shady. Hmm. Let me try something!" Makani lifts his wristband to his mouth. He'd spoken to it to message Hajime earlier and it had worked so perhaps this will work too. It's worth a try, anyway.
"Can you tell me the name and ratings-slash-reviews of this cafe, please?"

[Welsh Halfwit]

"You may escort us," Francis said carefully, inclining his head towards the anidroid, "if you wish to."

[valerio]

"Either this is a pets-only restaurant or it's... Shall we say, somewhat shady. Hmm. Let me try something!" Makani lifts his wristband to his mouth. He'd spoken to it to message Hajime earlier and it had worked so perhaps this will work too. It's worth a try, anyway.
"Can you tell me the name and ratings-slash-reviews of this cafe, please?"

-This is the Horizon Event Café. As of today, the average rating is 4/5. Rating cannot be used in specialized search engines due to lack of significant number of reviews.-
"In other words, mister," said a golden retriever, walking to the group, "Like oh-so-many 'smaller' diners aboard, it will take some day and some solid reviews before you can tell if they're poisoning you. Zak. Charmed." He saluted with a long blue glass from which a trail of smoke was boiling out. "Ever tried the 'Kelvin'? This thing redefines cocktails!" And he downed the content. For a moment, his fur floofed up, then he shook his head. When he sighed, his breath was positively colder. "Ahhh! And the reason my pals and I are here is because for once we can have the ship for ourselves while our humans are busy socializing. *We* are the kings of the worlds now!"

[Hlaoroo]

"It would be my pleasure." Kelly smiles, leading the pair to the road and flagging a taxi.
"To the Doyle Theatre, please." she instructs the Elen unit before turning to Francis and Tegan to help them into the car.
"We'll get out at the Theatre as it's so close to the public house. That way you'll know where to come once you've finished your meal." she explains.

~~~~~~~~
"Phwoar! What's in that drink?" Makani asks. "I'm Makani and this is everyone." he smiles, offering Zak a paw before sitting at a convenient and slightly discrete table and pulling out his kit.
"'Scuse me for a moment. Gotta check my blood sugar. Diabetic, you see. Fair warning, you should look away if you don't like needles or blood."

[Welsh Halfwit]

"It has to be Tegan first," Francis instructed gently and gentlemanly, "as it is ladies first." He sighed. "Then I shall have to cheat. For you are no less a lady..." he gave her a grin before beginning to get in, "but I want to sit next to Tegan."

[valerio]

"Phwoar! What's in that drink?" Makani asks. "I'm Makani and this is everyone." he smiles, offering Zak a paw before sitting at a convenient and slightly discrete table and pulling out his kit.
"'Scuse me for a moment. Gotta check my blood sugar. Diabetic, you see. Fair warning, you should look away if you don't like needles or blood."

"*I* could take a sample for you, if you don't mind," Axe offered with a devilish grin...and got a smack behind his head, courtesy of Mace. "Ow!"
------

"It has to be Tegan first," Francis instructed gently and gentlemanly, "as it is ladies first." He sighed. "Then I shall have to cheat. For you are no less a lady..." he gave her a grin before beginning to get in, "but I want to sit next to Tegan."

"Wouldn't have it any other way. I thought you had...different tastes, you know. Not that I mind, but you must be one cat who did travel around, lots of culinary experiences."

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Food, my dear lady, Francis said, settling in and fighting his seatbelt over his lap, "is food. Good or bad, it's the company that's important."

[Hlaoroo]

Kelly shuts the door behind Francis with a bow and then climbs into the front passenger seat as a good servile droid should. She agrees with Francis about the company but keeps quiet until invited to join the conversation as her programming instructs.

~~~~~~~~
Makani laughs.
"No thanks, Axe. I can do that myself." he grins, pricking his thumb and smearing a drop of blood onto the testing strip in his machine. While he waits for it to test he sucks his thumb until the bleeding stops and then once the machine beeps he checks the reading, packs up the kit and jabs himself just above his hip with his insulin.
"Cool. Got about half an hour before I have to eat now." he nods, reaching for the menu. "What do you recommend, Zak? And what was in that cocktail, by the way?"

[valerio]

Kelly shuts the door behind Francis with a bow and then climbs into the front passenger seat as a good servile droid should. She agrees with Francis about the company but keeps quiet until invited to join the conversation as her programming instructs.

"Other than being a secret nerd under that cover of fame and richness, are you also into books? I never refuse a good novel."
~~~~~~~~

Makani laughs.
"No thanks, Axe. I can do that myself." he grins, pricking his thumb and smearing a drop of blood onto the testing strip in his machine. While he waits for it to test he sucks his thumb until the bleeding stops and then once the machine beeps he checks the reading, packs up the kit and jabs himself just above his hip with his insulin.
"Cool. Got about half an hour before I have to eat now." he nods, reaching for the menu. "What do you recommend, Zak? And what was in that cocktail, by the way?"

"Me? Everything! They can give you anything fried, even the chairs if you asked 'em to! But if you want to treat your stomach, go for the "Fried Grand chick'n'bakon", the next best thing after heaven. Comes with small fried rice balls and if you ask the menu, fried ice cream as well. Oh, and the Kelvin? I don't know what's in it, the barmans says it's a family secret the extraterrestrials gave him or something like that, but it's not Nitrogen. It's some crystal that, when in touch with the inner body heat, combines with the beverage and releases this wave of cold. Once Teddy there..." he pointed with the thumb at a grey cat, "tried to keep it in his mouth. Worst case of brainfreeze you could imagine, yup!"

[Welsh Halfwit]

Francis smiled. "All I can say in relation to books is they're like life,
Tegan." He closed his eyes to remember. "Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat." [/color]" he said, quoting from Ralph Ellison's 'Invisible Man'.

[valerio]

Francis smiled. "All I can say in relation to books is they're like life, Tegan." He closed his eyes to remember. "Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat." [/color]" he said, quoting from Ralph Ellison's 'Invisible Man'.

"Oh, so Would it save you a lot of time if I just gave up and went mad now?” she answered, quoting the Hitchiker's Guide to Galaxy

[Welsh Halfwit]

"I wouldn't like to see you mad," Francis purred, "it would distract from my own greatness." He watched her try to work it out for a moent as they travelled before he put her out of her confusion. "You mean I can't make up my own quotes?"

[valerio]

"I wouldn't like to see you mad," Francis purred, "it would distract from my own greatness." He watched her try to work it out for a moent as they travelled before he put her out of her confusion. "You mean I can't make up my own quotes?"

"I think that if we started a contest, it would end up with us cosplaying like crazy, drunk on soda, and making up quotes like crazy. Sooo...let's save it for another occasion. This is going to be a long trip."

[Welsh Halfwit]

"I take your point," Francis conceded, and your hopes for the future.". He put his arm around her shoulders. "And what of you," he asked Kelly. "Do you have a quote you love more than any other?"

[CyberDragon]

Meanwhile, in their apartment, an odd looking human wearing a dirty lab coat was digging through a suitcase, haphazardly throwing a mix of clothing, tools, and other strange devices left and right into different open drawers. Half of the stuff ended up on the floor, but the human didn't seem to notice he was in such a hurry. He seemed to be searching for something in the pack. Finally, he paused as he noticed what he was looking for. He pulled a set of truly bizarre looking goggles out of his trunk. One would have a difficult time describing the eyewear, as they didn't seem to have a specific purpose to them. The right eye had a flexible telescoping component, currently retracted, with a rotatable set of different magnifying lenses, including one that just kind of looked like half of a glass eye. The left lens had what looked like a modified Swiss Army knife, except for it had various holographic HUD screens instead of tools. One of the screens was playing a perpetual game of pong with itself while another seemed to have funny cat videos. The rest appeared to have more useful, if incomprehensible, diagrams and visual aids to them.

Grinning broadly, the man put the odd goggles on and rested them on his forehead.

"Found it! Are you almost ready Beta? We're going to be late for the welcoming dinner." He called out into the other room.
"Hold on, Tom! I need a minute!" a voice called out in response. Suddenly there was a loud BANG! and the sounds of coughing. After that, Tom could hear the ventilation system start up. As well as the sprinklers. The door separating the rooms opened up and some smoke wafted out of it, followed by a damp, coughing green tiger, also in a lab coat.
"What the heck were you doing in there?!"
"I was trying to make something that would make me smell, you know, like a tiger. I don't want people catching on too soon. It ruins the fun!"
"Do tigers normally smell like smoke and soot? Because you nailed it if that's the case!" Tom laughed as he, with difficulty, helped Beta the green tiger up. "You know, you could just claim you use a spruce scented shampoo or something."
Beta paused. "That... would have been a lot easier..."
"I think you just like blowing stuff up." Thomas laughed. The tiger looked up and away, but didn't deny it. "Anyway, we should get going. We're going to be late! I'd get it if YOU don't care about missing a meal, but I don't have chlorophyll." The two walked out of the door.
"Are you really wearing those goggles to this? What if it's a formal thing?"
"Have you learned nothing from me?" Tom gave a look of mock disappointment. "We need to fight the oppressive establishment! Test the rules! Push the boundaries as to what society deems acceptable!" He was exclaiming with a variety of over-the-top expressive gestures.
"Uh huh. And what if it's a casual event with no defined rules?" he smirks at his human friend.
"Then at least I'll be able to get some funny reactions from people." Thomas responded. Beta snickered. "Figured that was the real reason." He said as they continued to walk down to where the welcoming dinner was to be held.

[valerio]

Inside, the place looked like some royal elven hall, only that the entrance doors were shaped after seashells. Blue was the predominant color, and the ShoWalls were displaying everchanging marine landscapes in a single, long surreal painting.
"Good evening, gentleman and gentle...fur?" the maitre d'o at the entrance was informed about this peculiar passenger, but for a moment his composture faltered. This was one...original specimen.
Then the 60 yo man looked at the human guest. "Sir, I'd bid you welcome, but you really need to...change according to the dress code for the evening. If you don't have a proper suit, I will be very glad to obtain one for you."

[Hotep the psychic]

Niners owner watched his pet with fascination and pride as the fox continued to work. He had replaced bone, implanted devices into morgana. The last he done was reset a few nerves in the body and align a single bone before closing the opening he first made for the procedure. The fox raised his paws and walked to a sink to wash himself clean before moving back to scan morganas body as the nanites within her began to speed the healing process. He rubbed the cars fur gently and smiled as the procedure finally finished.

The foxs work done he began to clean tools and turn off everything but a heart moniter seeing that morganna was breathing normally and asleep

[Hlaoroo]

"'To love or have loved, that is enough. Ask nothing more.' Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. My programming and personal experience has indicated that what all sapient creatures be they organic or otherwise desire most of all is to be valued and appreciated. It would seem that love is the highest form of appreciation and value so it would be that to which everyone would aspire and that which therefore ought satisfy anyone. That quote, then, I feel sums up life accurately. Other than that, I love The Four-Leaved Clover by Laura Augusta Yerkes because of the imagery and encouragement in it. 'I know a place where the sun is like gold and the cherry blooms burst with snow, and down underneath in the loveliest nook where the four-leaved clovers grow. One leaf is for hope and one is for faith and one is for love, you know, and God put another in for luck, if you search you will find where they grow. But you must have hope and you must have faith, you must love and be strong and so, if you work, if you wait, you will find the place, where the four-leaved clovers grow.'" Kelly recites.

~~~~~~~~
"Dry ice, maybe?" Makani suggests as his phone beeps. He pulls it out, reads the message and sends one in return.
"Sorry, guys. I have to go. That was my parents. I forgot about the Welcome Dinner. I have to go get dressed up and shake paws with people and exchange pleasantries. All very boring. Maybe I'll see you all tomorrow?"

[CyberDragon]

Inside, the place looked like some royal elven hall, only that the entrance doors were shaped after seashells. Blue was the predominant color, and the ShoWalls were displaying everchanging marine landscapes in a single, long surreal painting.
"Good evening, gentleman and gentle...fur?" the maitre d'o at the entrance was informed about this peculiar passenger, but for a moment his composture faltered. This was one...original specimen.
Then the 60 yo man looked at the human guest. "Sir, I'd bid you welcome, but you really need to...change according to the dress code for the evening. If you don't have a proper suit, I will be very glad to obtain one for you."

Tom was already wearing his unusual goggles. he leaned forward toward the man and the telescoping lense extended until it was halfway between him and the maitre d', with the glass-eye-lens being at the front. "Are you saying there's something WROOOOOONG with the way I look?!" he said, in his most over-the-top indignant voice. "I'll have you know, where I come from this is nothing less than the most luxurious dinner wear!" Tom gestured at his stained lab coat, which on closer inspection seems to be more like a trench coat with a ton of belts. Beta was holding his paw to his face, attempting to suppress the urge to laugh. "This coat was given to me by the President himself! The stylized stains are to show respect for the dirty jobs of the hard working citizens of the world, who's work is why we have things like this hall! Do you want to disrespect our hard workers?!" Tom was trying hard to keep a straight face, but he wasn't having as much difficulty as Beta, who was now doubled over and gripping his sides, trying desperately not to ruin things by bursting out laughing. Tom's extending eyepiece curled so that it faced his tiger friend. "You alright there buddy?" he asked. Beta made an odd squeaking sound in response, as he was afraid he would start laughing if he opened his mouth. "He's probably just hungry." The eyepiece retracted back to it's shortened position. "Best to let us in so I can get him some food. No one wants a hungry tiger around them. That would be bad."

[Welsh Halfwit]

Francis leaned back. "One from TV for you. The time of the Fourth Actor to play Doctor Who. It speaks, I think, to your current situation, Kelly." he closed his eyes and brought up the quote from memory. "You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They don’t alter their views to fit the facts. They alter the facts to fit their views. Which can be uncomfortable… if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering.” A fact that needs to be altered. You're just as relevant and important as I am.
"

[Mickey]

"That's because of our job," Zeke said.
"Yup. We work as undercover K9U for the FBI."
"We're supposed to hide ourselves in all situations."
"And you're not to tell anyone."
"Or we'll kill you."

Marky and James' jaws drop, Marky soon smiling afterward while James remained in shock.

"Are you guys for real," he whispered excitedly, "That's so cool!" There are practically stars in his eyes.

[Hlaoroo]

"I'm afraid I am struggling to see the relevance, sir." Kelly apologises politely.

~~~~~~~~
Barely ten minutes later, Makani is thoroughly brushed and groomed thanks to a pair of helpful Elen units and is wearing a white collared-shirt and a gold bow tie delicately embroidered with a Paisley design in gold thread to give it a pleasing texture. His golden bell and tag hangs from the knot of the self-tied tie as a fetching accent and on his right paw glitters a gold monogrammed ring which compliments and balances the gold watch on his left wrist. A white vest under a white jacket with a deep purple pocket square for a splash of colour completes the outfit. A spritz of delicately-scented cologne and a final check in the mirror and he heads confidently out the door with his parents. His entire ensemble virtually screams wealth but when combined with his demeanour also projects a certain easy affability and generosity. It's a look the cat has worked hard to perfect.

When the family arrives downstairs they're a little surprised to see the pine-scented tiger and "mad scientist" and are slightly amused by the antics of the pair. They know exactly who they are, word having passed up the chain of command, and Makani, after gaining a look of approval from his parents, decides to have a little fun.
"Ahem." he coughs politely. "If sir will excuse my saying so, if the tiger is hungry, perhaps the zoo would more adequately accommodate his needs." the cat says in his poshest Australian accent, keeping his face perfectly straight, his body in perfect poise and his manners perfectly impeccable.

[Welsh Halfwit]

"I'm simply saying," Francis clarified, "that some people say that, as you were not created in the physical way of intertwining... I wish I could have thought of a better analogy there... that you're not on an equal standing with us, Kelly. I, personally, think you're my equal so you never need to stand on ceremony with me, fair enough? And you don't have to call me 'sir'. You can call me Francis if you like."

[CyberDragon]

Barely ten minutes later, Makani is thoroughly brushed and groomed thanks to a pair of helpful Elen units and is wearing a white collared-shirt and a gold bow tie delicately embroidered with a Paisley design in gold thread to give it a pleasing texture. His golden bell and tag hangs from the knot of the self-tied tie as a fetching accent and on his right paw glitters a gold monogrammed ring which compliments and balances the gold watch on his left wrist. A white vest under a white jacket with a deep purple pocket square for a splash of colour completes the outfit. A spritz of delicately-scented cologne and a final check in the mirror and he heads confidently out the door with his parents. His entire ensemble virtually screams wealth but when combined with his demeanour also projects a certain easy affability and generosity. It's a look the cat has worked hard to perfect.

When the family arrives downstairs they're a little surprised to see the pine-scented tiger and "mad scientist" and are slightly amused by the antics of the pair. They know exactly who they are, word having passed up the chain of command, and Makani, after gaining a look of approval from his parents, decides to have a little fun.
"Ahem." he coughs politely. "If sir will excuse my saying so, if the tiger is hungry, perhaps the zoo would more adequately accommodate his needs." the cat says in his poshest Australian accent, keeping his face perfectly straight, his body in perfect poise and his manners perfectly impeccable.

Tom spun around swishing his coat like a cape and looked at Makani. He recognized the family, but decided he would have some fun as well. His eyepiece extended until it was almost poking Makani in the forehead. He leaned forward with his hand on his chin as if considering Makani's suggestion. "What do you think, Beta? Ever consider volunteering at the zoo?"

Beta shuddered. "No...! Never again!" He looked off into the distance pretending to have a flashback. "The Giraffe! It keeps trying to eat me! No! Get away! EEEEEEEEEE....!" He screams in mock terror before rather exaggeratedly falling to the ground in a fetal position.

Tom turned his lens on Beta. "Oh, great. You broke him. This is going to take forever to fix!" He fakes a sigh. "Well, best get started. I'll need a hammer, a thumbtack, and a rubber chicken."

[Hlaoroo]

"I see. Thank you, Francis. I appreciate that." Kelly smiles as the car pulls up outside the theatre. The ferret droid jumps out of the car and hurries to open the door for Francis and Tegan.
"This building is the Doyle Theatre. The Public House is this way." she announces once they're both safely disembarked and the car has left.

~~~~~~~~
"And perhaps a veterinarian?" Makani's face doesn't change except for a raised eyebrow. "I hear that for all the advances in technology we have here there's still only one way to accurately take a temperature."

[Hotep the psychic]

After some time Niner would be walking up and down the ship, his owner having seen the surgery was now in his new office taking in notices and looking at other patients to get working. though the fox was worryed he knew his work was on point and that Morgana would be fine if she isnt interupted. the cyborg fox walking about until he was outside on the top decks and enjoying the breeze

[CyberDragon]

"And perhaps a veterinarian?" Makani's face doesn't change except for a raised eyebrow. "I hear that for all the advances in technology we have here there's still only one way to accurately take a temperature."

Tom was holding up a hammer in one hand and a thumbtack and a rubber chicken in the other hand procured from... somewhere. It wasn't clear how or where or how he had gotten those things. "What? Why on earth would he need a Vet? What good would a vet do? CLEARLY he needs a botanist!"

The tiger shot up. "No! Not the botanist!" He said in a similar manner to how a pet would respond to news of a trip to the Vet.

"Oh, you big baby. Have some chicken with your ham why don't you?" Tom dope-slaps Beta with the rubber chicken.

"Ah! Why you..." Beta grabs Tom and pulls the much smaller human into a headlock and started giving him noogies. The scene was starting to turn into a three stooges episode.

"Ack! Leggo!"

[valerio]

"Dry ice, maybe?" Makani suggests as his phone beeps. He pulls it out, reads the message and sends one in return.
"Sorry, guys. I have to go. That was my parents. I forgot about the Welcome Dinner. I have to go get dressed up and shake paws with people and exchange pleasantries. All very boring. Maybe I'll see you all tomorrow?"

"Ah, no dry Ice, and...sure thing. Anytime you wish just to run away and have some real fun, we'll be here."
"We'll stay here as well," Axe said, Mace nodding.
"I'll stick with the boring party," Mac said. Piper nodded.
"I cannot miss the event," Flash said, standing up. "I am the equivalent of a dignitary, I have my duties."
---
Back at the VR playing room, the 'Roman' session was interrupted.
"Oh!" Jemmy said. "Master Volken has summoned us, the dinner at the Captain's table is about to start." he bowed apologetically to his partner in game. "I am truly sorry, Doctor. I must leave, but I will be happy to resume our session tomorrow, should you have time."
---
Asur's eyes flashed for a moment. "Nuts. Doctor Hell wants me to join him at the stupid dinner. Hey, pal," he said to Boxer. "I should return you to your shrink. But we can stay in touch if you, or your other friends, want to. Hm?"
---

Marky and James' jaws drop, Marky soon smiling afterward while James remained in shock.
"Are you guys for real," he whispered excitedly, "That's so cool!" There are practically stars in his eyes.

"Oh yes," Quincy said. "Humans are so full of themselves: They can barely imagine us more than glorified bodyguards or as lesser cops."
Zeke grinned. "And so, that makes us perfect for undercover operations. They never suspect the pets."
"And we get to see the world."
"AAAND THE BABES!!" both sang out, hi-fiving.
---
"And here I was fearing Beta could break *you*" said a new voice. That of a man in a formal attire, but with a face that betrayed the lack of grooming typical of who spent much time working without taking care of himself. He offered his hand to the man still in the tiger's grip. "Helmut Leonovich Volken. Artificial Intelligence. Finally we meet, sir. I read all your papers on species-crossing, but seeing the result alive and breathing, well..." he eyed the tiger head to toe as if actually considering the big animal SEXY. "Beautiful.

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Then you may lead on, Kelly," Francis said, escorting Tegan towards the restaurant whilst looking around at the other shops and bars surrounding them. "Anywhere else you wish to go we can tonight, Tegan," he promised. "I am at your service."

[CyberDragon]

"And here I was fearing Beta could break *you*" said a new voice. That of a man in a formal attire, but with a face that betrayed the lack of grooming typical of who spent much time working without taking care of himself. He offered his hand to the man still in the tiger's grip. "Helmut Leonovich Volken. Artificial Intelligence. Finally we meet, sir. I read all your papers on species-crossing, but seeing the result alive and breathing, well..." he eyed the tiger head to toe as if actually considering the big animal SEXY. "Beautiful.

Tom and Beta froze when they heard the new voice. They looked at each other, Tom still in Beta's headlock.
"Does he think I made you?"
"I think he thinks you made me."
"I didn't make him. I just raised him. Made sure he was physically and mentally healthy." Tom pointed a thumb at Beta.
"Well, at least he succeeded in one of those areas... Ow!" Tom had elbowed Beta in the ribs.
"Also, I didn't write those essays..."
"Mostly because his spelling is terrible... Nope! Denied!" Tom tried to elbow Beta again, but the tiger stopped it.
"I gathered much of the data as I was raising him though. The effects of chlorophyll, how the mixed genes impacted the mind and body..."
"As you can see, I am perfectly normal, with no side effects whatsoever!" Beta gestured bringing attention to his green "fur", as if it really needed attention brought to it.
"He did the other case studies to get a larger sample for the presentation, which turned out to be a good idea because Beta was a bit of an outlier."
"Anyway, thank you for your interest in our work!" the two said in unison.

[valerio]

Tom and Beta froze when they heard the new voice. They looked at each other, Tom still in Beta's headlock.
"Does he think I made you?"
"I think he thinks you made me."
"I didn't make him. I just raised him. Made sure he was physically and mentally healthy." Tom pointed a thumb at Beta.
"Well, at least he succeeded in one of those areas... Ow!" Tom had elbowed Beta in the ribs.
"Also, I didn't write those essays..."
"Mostly because his spelling is terrible... Nope! Denied!" Tom tried to elbow Beta again, but the tiger stopped it.
"I gathered much of the data as I was raising him though. The effects of chlorophyll, how the mixed genes impacted the mind and body..."
"As you can see, I am perfectly normal, with no side effects whatsoever!" Beta gestured bringing attention to his green "fur", as if it really needed attention brought to it.
"He did the other case studies to get a larger sample for the presentation, which turned out to be a good idea because Beta was a bit of an outlier."
"Anyway, thank you for your interest in our work!" the two said in unison.

Volken chuckled with embarrassment. "Is that so? Oh der, I thought I was talking to Dr. Henson, head of the research team and author of thos papers... Admittedly, I found it odd he'd dress so...originally. He's known to be a tad uptight." Then, at Beta's suggestion, Volken brushed the tiger's fur with his hand. "Amazing. Someone at Mars Project must be drooling right now...I can't wait you meet my pet creations, they make for their own small revolution in their field."
---

"Then you may lead on, Kelly," Francis said, escorting Tegan towards the restaurant whilst looking around at the other shops and bars surrounding them. "Anywhere else you wish to go we can tonight, Tegan," he promised. "I am at your service."

The orange cat chuckled. "Believe me, as part of Security I know this ship pretty well but right now I wouldn't know where to go to. Not on a date. What do you say, my prince?"

[Roarin]

"Zwah?" Avery shook her head, the sudden return to reality a bit disorienting for the canine who was just about to take a dive into the bath. "Ah, right dinner! Dinner?!" Avery exclaimed in surprise. Had she been here all day???
"Gosh... now I can see why my handlers limited my consumption of electronic games... Of course of course! I guess I'll see you at dinner then. Are you returning to your owner?"

[valerio]

"Zwah?" Avery shook her head, the sudden return to reality a bit disorienting for the canine who was just about to take a dive into the bath. "Ah, right dinner! Dinner?!" Avery exclaimed in surprise. Had she been here all day???
"Gosh... now I can see why my handlers limited my consumption of electronic games... Of course of course! I guess I'll see you at dinner then. Are you returning to your owner?"

"Yes. He will be waiting for us there. What will you do with your patient?"

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Well," Francis said, gesturing to the shops around them, "I was always told to bring a gift of jewellery to a first date - were I ever to have one - by my mother. I think you may like something from one of these shops before heading to the theatre?" He grinned slightly. "I'm hardly talking the Koh-i-noor or the Blue Water Sapphire but I'm sure they have something."

[valerio]

"Well," Francis said, gesturing to the shops around them, "I was always told to bring a gift of jewellery to a first date - were I ever to have one - by my mother. I think you may like something from one of these shops before heading to the theatre?" He grinned slightly. "I'm hardly talking the Koh-i-noor or the Blue Water Sapphire but I'm sure they have something."

"See? *Now* you're thinking like a true gentlefur. I hadn't put on any just to see if you were attentive. And this time I'll help you out with a suggestion: A nice choker will do. My poor neck is so cold..."

[Roarin]

"Patient? Oh, oh! Reginald!" The canine scanned the area for the multi-personality dog but couldn't quite find him. "Hmm, well. There's not much I can do if he's not around. And he is a guest of the ship after all so he's free to do anything a guest is allowed to do." Avery let out a soft sigh. "Though I am a bit worried about him. I suppose I'll just have to see if he comes to the clinic tomorrow or not. So for now I guess, nothing. And hope maybe he's at the dinner."

[Welsh Halfwit]

"I shall warm your neck on the outside later," Francis said, casting his eyes over her perfect, slender, neck as he said so. "For now I believe we should catch Kelly," he added, indicating the departing ani-droid.